ATP 2-33.4, page 19

Analytic Skills support critical thinking. Key critical thinking attributes include human traits such as intellectual courage, integrity, and humility. Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. 2-14. Analysts use thinking to transform information into intelligence. Critical thinking can improve many tasks and processes across Army operations, especially the conduct of intelligence analysis. Critical thinking includes the intellectually disciplined activity of actively and skillfully analyzing and synthesizing information. The key distinction in critical thinking is a reflective and self-disciplined approach to thinking. 2-15. For the analyst, the first step in building critical thinking skills is to begin a course of personal study and practice with a goal of improving the ability to reason. This means moving outside the Army body of doctrine and other Army professional writing when beginning this study. The vast majority of the body of thought concerning critical thinking is spread throughout various civilian professions, particularly in academia. The discussion in this publication is intended to be an introduction that serves as a glimpse of what should become a professional endeavor. 2-16. The Army has used many different sources in its doctrinal discussions of critical thinking. Among those most cited, as well as those used in the development of this discussion, are Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder of the Foundation for Critical Thinking. This foundation has developed many products useful to Army leaders and Soldiers in developing critical thinking skills. Of these, the elements of thought, intellectual standards, and intellectual traits are the most useful tools analysts can initially apply to further their critical thinking skills. These skills can also aid in avoiding the common pitfalls of undisciplined thinking. These analytic pitfalls—logic fallacies, biases, and misusing analogies—are discussed beginning at paragraph 2-32. ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT 2-17. There are eight basic elements present in all thinking. Figure 2-1 illustrates these elements. Point of View Purpose frames of reference, J goals, objectives perspectives, orientations Implications and Question at Issue Consequences problem, issue Elements : of Assumptions Thought Information presuppositions, 4 data, facts, axioms, taking for 4 observations, granted . experiences Concepts Interpretation’ theories, definitions, | and Inference laws, principles, [[conclusions, solutions models Figure 2-1. The elements of thought 18 August 2014 ATP 2-33.4 2-3 Analytic Skills 18 August 2014 ATP 2-33.4 2-3 support critical thinking. Key critical thinking attributes include human traits such as intellectual courage, integrity, and humility. Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. 2-14. Analysts use thinking to transform information into intelligence. Critical thinking can improve many tasks and processes across Army operations, especially the conduct of intelligence analysis. Critical thinking includes the intellectually disciplined activity of actively and skillfully analyzing and synthesizing information. The key distinction in critical thinking is a reflective and self-disciplined approach to thinking. 2-15. For the analyst, the first step in building critical thinking skills is to begin a course of personal study and practice with a goal of improving the ability to reason. This means moving outside the Army body of doctrine and other Army professional writing when beginning this study. The vast majority of the body of thought concerning critical thinking is spread throughout various civilian professions, particularly in academia. The discussion in this publication is intended to be an introduction that serves as a glimpse of what should become a professional endeavor. 2-16. The Army has used many different sources in its doctrinal discussions of critical thinking. Among those most cited, as well as those used in the development of this discussion, are Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder of the Foundation for Critical Thinking. This foundation has developed many products useful to Army leaders and Soldiers in developing critical thinking skills. Of these, the elements of thought, intellectual standards, and intellectual traits are the most useful tools analysts can initially apply to further their critical thinking skills. These skills can also aid in avoiding the common pitfalls of undisciplined thinking. These analytic pitfalls—logic fallacies, biases, and misusing analogies—are discussed beginning at paragraph 2-32. ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT 2-17. There are eight basic elements present in all thinking. Figure 2-1 illustrates these elements. Figure 2-1. The elements of thought