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Processes and characteristics of basic thinking skills

The basic process of thought is constituted by these elementary operations:

Observation

is the active acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the perception and recording of data via the use of scientific instruments. According with the Cambridge English dictionary is “a remark about something that you have noticed or the fact that you notice or see something.”

Indirect vs direct observation

The difference could be explained as follows: A direct observation collects information only from an individual's senses and is not affected by thoughts. In indirect observation, on the other hand, the observer bases the information on his or her previous knowledge.

Comparison

is the action in two or more things to find their possible similarities, differences, or relationships of some kind, either by appealing to their physical or symbolic or imaginary appearance. In this way, one can compare two individuals and highlight their physical similarities or, conversely, their personality differences, for example.

Relationship

The relationship process occurs once data is obtained, the product of observation and comparison, the human mind makes abstractions of that information and establishes links between the data: between reports, previous experiences, and theories.

 
Establishing relationships is connecting the results of the exploration, linking information, and therefore performing a thinking skill a little more complex than the previous ones.

Classification

Being able to identify similarities and differences is a prior skill required to understand and apply the classification process. Classification is a mental process that allows people, objects, events, or situations to be grouped based on their similarities and differences, it is a fundamental epistemological operation.

The classification allows to identify people, objects, events, or situations that have never been seen, identify or define concepts and propose hypotheses.