Resource link
This set of webpages and video from the Department of Education in New South Wales, Australia, provides background information on evaluative thinking and its use.
Evaluative thinking is a disciplined approach to inquiry and reflective practice that helps us make sound judgements using good evidence, as a matter of habit.
The short video is a good place to start, and while it focuses on using evaluative thinking in educational contexts, it is easy to understand and adapt to other situations. Evaluative thinking is introduced as a form of critical thinking, and the resource then goes on to describe several key considerations in applying the technique.
Further detail is supplied on these web pages regarding the values that underpin evaluative thinking:
- Curiosity
- Ambition
- Courage
- Humility
- Honesty
And the disciplines that can help us to activate evaluative thinking
- Suspending judgement
- Asking important questions
- Using existing evidence well
- Strengthening our evidence base
Sources
Department of Education. (2023). Evaluative thinking. New South Wales Government. https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/pl-resources/evaluation-resource-hub/evaluative-thinking