Construct Validity
Construct validity relates to whether a particular psychometric assessment...
section one
5 Effective Interview Questions to Measure Critical Thinking
Lead consultant at Test Partnership, Ben Schwencke, explains why Critical Thinking is worth measuring.
Effective critical thinking is an essential cognitive ability in today's fast-paced and complex business environment. Employers are looking for candidates who can analyse information, identify patterns, and make sound decisions based on evidence and logical reasoning. As a result, measuring critical thinking has become an important part of the hiring process.
While cognitive ability tests are effective, interviews remain an essential part of the hiring process, providing valuable insights into a candidate's critical thinking skills.
To measure critical thinking effectively during interviews, employers need to ask the right questions. This article will explore five effective interview questions that can help measure critical thinking skills in candidates. Each question is designed to assess a different aspect of critical thinking, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and creativity. In this article, we will provide five effective questions to measure critical thinking in interviews, along with advice on what constitutes a strong / weak answer.
How do you approach problems that have no clear solution or path forward?
Would showcase the candidate's ability to use critical thinking to approach complex problems. The candidate should be able to demonstrate their ability to break down a problem into smaller parts, identify potential solutions, and weigh different factors to arrive at a decision. Additionally, a strong answer should showcase the candidate's ability to adapt to new information and adjust their approach as needed.
Might lack structure or clarity. The candidate might struggle to articulate a clear approach to problem-solving, or they may provide vague or generic examples that don't showcase their ability to think critically. Additionally, a weak answer might lack concrete details or evidence to support the candidate's claims, suggesting that they may not have a strong track record of using critical thinking to solve complex problems. Finally, a weak answer might show an inability to adapt to new information or adjust their approach, suggesting that the candidate may struggle to work effectively in a dynamic or changing environment.
- 1. How do you break down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts?
- 2. What factors do you consider when evaluating potential solutions?
- 3. How do you prioritize and weigh different factors when making a decision?
How do you prioritize competing demands or conflicting goals when making decisions?
Would demonstrate the candidate's ability to use critical thinking to evaluate complex situations with conflicting demands or goals. The candidate should be able to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, including the factors they consider and how they weigh the importance of each factor. Additionally, a strong answer should showcase the candidate's ability to make data-driven decisions based on a thoughtful and strategic analysis of the situation.
Might lack structure or clarity. The candidate might struggle to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, or they may provide vague or generic examples that don't showcase their ability to think critically. Additionally, a weak answer might lack concrete details or evidence to support the candidate's claims, suggesting that they may not have a strong track record of using critical thinking to evaluate complex situations. Finally, a weak answer might show an inability to make data-driven decisions or to prioritize conflicting demands or goals effectively, suggesting that the candidate may struggle to work effectively in a high-pressure or dynamic environment.
- 1. What factors do you consider when evaluating competing demands or goals?
- 2. How do you weigh the importance of each factor?
- 3. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to make a decision with competing demands or goals? How did you arrive at a decision?
Can you walk me through a decision you made that involved weighing different options and their potential consequences?
Would showcase the candidate's ability to use critical thinking to evaluate complex situations and make data-driven decisions. The candidate should be able to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, including the factors they consider and how they weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option. Additionally, a strong answer should demonstrate the candidate's ability to analyse outcomes and reflect on their decisions, including whether they feel they made the right choice and what they would do differently in the future.
Might lack structure or clarity. The candidate might struggle to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, or they may provide vague or generic examples that don't showcase their ability to think critically. Additionally, a weak answer might lack concrete details or evidence to support the candidate's claims, suggesting that they may not have a strong track record of using critical thinking to evaluate complex situations. Finally, a weak answer might show an inability to analyse outcomes or reflect on decisions, suggesting that the candidate may struggle to learn from past experiences and improve their decision-making skills over time.
- 1. What factors did you consider when evaluating each option?
- 2. How did you weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option?
- 3. Can you discuss the outcome of the decision and whether you feel it was the right one?
How do you handle situations where there is no clear precedent or established process to follow?
Would demonstrate the candidate's ability to think critically and adapt to new and challenging situations. The candidate should be able to articulate a clear approach to problem-solving, including how they gather information, evaluate potential solutions, and make data-driven decisions. Additionally, a strong answer should showcase the candidate's ability to think creatively and outside the box, as critical thinking often involves finding new and innovative solutions to complex problems.
Might lack structure or clarity. The candidate might struggle to articulate a clear approach to problem-solving, or they may provide vague or generic examples that don't showcase their ability to think critically. Additionally, a weak answer might lack concrete details or evidence to support the candidate's claims, suggesting that they may not have a strong track record of adapting to new and challenging situations. Finally, a weak answer might show an inability to think creatively or outside the box, suggesting that the candidate may struggle to find new and innovative solutions to complex problems.
- 1. How do you go about gathering information and assessing the situation?
- 2. What factors do you consider when determining the best course of action?
- 3. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to make a decision without a clear precedent or established process? How did you approach the situation?
How do you ensure that your decision-making process is objective and data-driven?
Would demonstrate the candidate's ability to use critical thinking to make objective and data-driven decisions. The candidate should be able to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, including the sources of information they use and how they weigh conflicting data points. Additionally, a strong answer should showcase the candidate's ability to use data and analysis to inform their decision-making, rather than relying solely on intuition or personal biases.
Might lack structure or clarity. The candidate might struggle to articulate a clear approach to decision-making, or they may provide vague or generic examples that don't showcase their ability to think critically. Additionally, a weak answer might lack concrete details or evidence to support the candidate's claims, suggesting that they may not have a strong track record of using data and analysis to inform their decision-making. Finally, a weak answer might show an inability to weigh conflicting data points or make objective decisions, suggesting that the candidate may struggle to make effective decisions in a high-pressure or dynamic environment.
- 1. What sources of information do you use when making decisions?
- 2. How do you weigh conflicting information or data points?
- 3. Can you provide an example of a time when you made a decision based on data and analysis?
section two
Limitations of interview questions for Critical Thinking
As a cognitive ability, critical thinking is sub-optimally measured using interviews. Many different factors can influence interview performance, many of which are behavioural and interpersonal in nature. Consequently, a skilled interviewee could easily convince an interviewer that they have strong critical thinking skills, but in reality, they are just charismatic. Instead, as with other aptitudes, cognitive ability tests should be used to assess critical thinking, providing a less biased and more reliable estimate of a candidate’s critical thinking.
Test Partnership's critical thinking test is the ideal assessment of critical thinking in the workplace. Research shows that aptitude tests, including critical thinking tests, rank among the most powerful predictors of performance known, making them invaluable recruitment tools. Our critical thinking test, in particular, allows you to capture this essential capability, without the need for extensive interviewing. For more information on our critical thinking test, please contact us directly or register for a free trial.
