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    Interactive assessment

    Critical Thinking & Cognitive Bias Detector

    Assess your capacity to analyse arguments, identify assumptions, reason logically and detect cognitive biases that distort your judgement.

    In an age of information overload and AI-generated content, critical thinking is among the most valuable human capabilities. This diagnostic identifies where your thinking is strongest and where biases or reasoning gaps may be affecting your decisions and judgements.

    Questions or items
    20 questions or items
    Completion time
    Around 10 minutes
    Dimensions
    Argument Analysis, Assumption Identification, Logical Deduction, Bias Awareness & Objectivity
    What you receive
    Personalised results with result bands, section scores and development guidance.

    What it covers

    • Argument Analysis
    • Assumption Identification
    • Logical Deduction
    • Bias Awareness & Objectivity

    Rate each statement from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree) based on how consistently and accurately it describes your thinking. Be as honest as possible, the value of this tool depends on self-awareness, not self-promotion.

    Results: Personalised results with result bands, section scores and development guidance.

    How this interactive diagnostic works

    Read what it covers here first. Nothing is saved or sent until you continue. Your result is calculated once every required item is answered.

    If it asks for your first name and work email, you enter them in the diagnostic itself. This page sends nothing.

    Statements in this diagnostic

    Statements are grouped by section. Answer each one for the situation named in the instructions, using the scale shown.

    Argument Analysis

    The ability to break down claims, identify evidence and evaluate the strength of an argument is the foundation of critical thinking.

    1. When I encounter an argument, I look for the evidence supporting it before forming a view
    2. I can distinguish between a strong argument with weak evidence and a weak argument with compelling delivery
    3. I look for alternative explanations before accepting the first conclusion that makes sense
    4. I can identify when a conclusion doesn't logically follow from the premises presented
    5. I regularly challenge the information I receive, even from authoritative sources, by asking what evidence supports it

    Assumption Identification

    Uncovering hidden assumptions, in others' thinking and our own, is essential for sound reasoning and good decisions.

    1. I actively surface the assumptions behind plans and proposals before committing to them
    2. I can identify when a conclusion depends on an unstated assumption that may not be true
    3. I regularly examine my own assumptions and test whether they still hold
    4. I am comfortable asking 'what are we assuming here?' in group discussions without appearing obstructive
    5. When plans fail, I look at which assumptions proved wrong, not just which actions went wrong

    Logical Deduction

    Logical reasoning, the ability to draw valid conclusions from available information, underpins effective analysis and decision-making.

    1. I can follow a chain of reasoning and identify where the logic breaks down
    2. I am able to hold multiple competing hypotheses in mind and evaluate them simultaneously
    3. I distinguish between correlation and causation in data and reports I review
    4. I can construct a well-reasoned argument for a position I personally disagree with
    5. When I reach a conclusion, I can trace the reasoning path that led me there and explain it clearly

    Bias Awareness & Objectivity

    Cognitive biases distort judgement in systematic, predictable ways. Awareness of them is the first step to mitigating their effect.

    1. I am familiar with common cognitive biases (e.g. confirmation bias, anchoring, availability heuristic) and can recognise them in my own thinking
    2. I actively seek disconfirming evidence, information that challenges what I already believe
    3. I can identify when I am being influenced by how information is framed rather than its actual content
    4. When making important decisions, I use a structured process to reduce the influence of intuition and bias
    5. I notice when group dynamics are suppressing critical thinking and take steps to introduce challenge

    How the result is read

    Your answers are totalled for each section and overall. Each total falls into one of the bands below.

    • Developing, 20 to 44: Significant gaps in critical thinking capability. Start with Bias Awareness, understanding the cognitive shortcuts that distort your thinking is the fastest path to improvement. Even awareness of confirmation bias alone measurably improves decision quality.
    • Emerging, 45 to 64: Developing critical thinking capability with clear strengths in some areas. Look at your Assumption Identification score, most Emerging critical thinkers underestimate how many of their plans rest on untested assumptions.
    • Capable, 65 to 82: A capable critical thinker. Your analysis is generally sound and your reasoning is structured. To reach Advanced, focus on Logical Deduction, specifically practise identifying when conclusions don't follow from premises in real-world contexts.
    • Advanced, 83 to 100: Advanced critical thinking. You are among a small minority who actively question their own assumptions and reasoning in real time. Apply this to your most important recurring decisions, and help others develop the same capacity.

    Sources named in this diagnostic

    • Kahneman, D. (2011) Thinking, Fast and Slow. London: Allen Lane.
    • Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2019) The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. 8th edn. Tomales, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.
    • Thaler, R.H. and Sunstein, C.R. (2008) Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Where to take the next step

    Our human skills programmes develop interpersonal, communication and influence capabilities.

    Explore Human Skills Programmes

    Frequently asked questions

    What does the Critical Thinking & Cognitive Bias Detector measure?

    In an age of information overload and AI-generated content, critical thinking is among the most valuable human capabilities. This diagnostic identifies where your thinking is strongest and where biases or reasoning gaps may be affecting your decisions and judgements.

    How many questions are in the Critical Thinking & Cognitive Bias Detector?

    It contains 20 questions grouped into 4 dimensions: Argument Analysis, Assumption Identification, Logical Deduction, Bias Awareness & Objectivity.

    How is the Critical Thinking & Cognitive Bias Detector scored?

    Responses are totalled within each section and across the diagnostic, and each total falls into a result band.

    What happens after I complete the Critical Thinking & Cognitive Bias Detector?

    Once the required items are answered, you enter your first name and email to see your results: an overall interpretation, section scores and development guidance.

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