Determine What Information is Needed

Welcome to Gather Perspectives for Critical Thinking! Critical thinking is a practical skill that helps you make better decisions, solve problems, and avoid mistakes. In this course, you’ll learn how to gather the right information and different viewpoints before making choices. This will help you see the full picture, avoid jumping to conclusions, and feel more confident in your decisions.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• Ways to figure out what information you really need before making a decision
• Tips for telling what you already know from what you still need to find out
• Steps to make a simple checklist to guide your information gathering

These skills will help you in everyday situations, whether you’re making a personal choice or working with others.

Before you make any decision, it’s important to know what information you actually need. Think of it like planning a trip—you wouldn’t just leave without knowing where you’re going or what to pack. The same goes for solving problems.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions about the situation:

• Who is involved or affected?
• What do I need to decide or solve?
• When does this need to happen?
• Where will this matter?
• Why is this important?
• How will I know if I made the right choice?

For example, if you’re deciding whether to buy a new phone, you might need to know your budget, what features you need, and when you need the phone. Some information is essential (like the price), while other details are just nice to have (like the color), so focus on the most important facts first. Then, make two simple lists: one for what you already know (such as “I have $300 to spend”) and one for what you still need to find out (like “Which phones have the best battery life?”). This helps you avoid guessing or making decisions based on assumptions. If you’re not sure what you’re missing, ask someone else for ideas since they might think of questions you didn’t consider.

Here’s how this might look in a conversation:

• Nova: I’m thinking about starting a small online business, but I’m not sure if I’m ready.
• Ryan: Let’s separate what you know from what you don’t know yet. What facts do you have right now?
• Nova: Well, I know I have some money saved for startup costs, and I know how to make the products.
• Ryan: Good! Those are solid knowns. What about your unknowns?
• Nova: I guess... I don’t know how much it costs to ship products, or how to set up a website, or what the legal requirements are.
• Ryan: Perfect! Now you have a clear list of what to research instead of just feeling overwhelmed by everything you “might” need to know.

Notice how Ryan helps Nova move from feeling unsure to having a clear, manageable list of questions. This makes it much easier to get started.

Once you know what you need to find out, make a checklist to keep track of your information gathering. Your information checklist should fit your situation and be easy to follow. Start with the most important things you need to know—these are the must-haves that could change your decision. After that, add other helpful details that give you more context, and finally, include any extra information that might help you fine-tune your choice.

You can keep it simple by writing a short note for each item on your checklist. Include what you need to learn, why it matters, where you might find the answer, and by when you need it. This way, your checklist stays clear and focused, and you always know what to do next.

Here’s a simple example for someone choosing a new apartment:

As you find answers, check them off your list. If new questions come up, add them to your checklist. This way, you make sure you don’t miss anything important and can explain your decision to others if needed.

By using these steps to determine what information is needed, you'll be ready to gather the right information and make better decisions in any situation. In the upcoming exercises, you'll work through real scenarios where you'll identify what information is needed, separate what's known from unknown, and create your own information checklists. These hands-on activities will help cement these critical thinking tools so you can use them confidently in any situation you encounter.