kɹˈɪɾɪkəl θˈɪŋkɪŋ kæn biː ˌʌndɚstˈʊd æz ðɪ ɐbˈɪləɾi tə wˈeɪ ˈɛvɪdəns, ɛɡzˈæmɪn ˈɑːɹɡjuːmənts, ænd kˈɑːnstɹʌkt ɹˈæʃənəl bˈeɪsᵻz fɔːɹ bᵻlˈiːfs, bˌʌt ɪɾ ˈɔːlsoʊ ɪŋklˈuːdz sˈɛlfɛɡzˌæmᵻnˈeɪʃən ʌv ɹˈiːzənɪŋ pɹˈɑːsɛsᵻz ˈaɪ.ˈiː., mˌɛɾəkəɡnˈɪʃən tʊ ɪvˈæljuːˌeɪt ðɛɹ ɐpɹˈoʊpɹɪətnəs ænd ɪfˈɛktɪvnəs.
Critical thinking can be understood as the ability to weigh evidence, examine arguments, and construct rational bases for beliefs, but it also includes self-examination of reasoning processes (i.e., metacognition) to evaluate their appropriateness and effectiveness.