IntroductionWith the development of human society, we have entered the information age, leading to a significant increase in the cost of decision-making. This particular age has focused attention on good thinking as an important element of success in life (Huitt, 1995; Thomas and Smoot, 1994). This report will provide an overall description of what critical thinking is and explain what it means for students to demonstrate critical thinking. Overall Description of Critical ThinkingThe definition of critical thinking has changed in one way or another over the past few decades. Critical thinking first used by Plato and Aristotle around 350 BC. (Sam and Frederick, 2006). In 1986, Chance described critical thinking as the ability to analyze facts, generate and organize ideas, defend opinions, make comparisons, draw conclusions, evaluate arguments, and resolve problems. Then, in 1995, it was defined as competent and responsible thinking that facilitates good judgment because it is context-sensitive and self-correcting (Lipman, 1995, p. 146). Additionally, a number of distinct groups have made significant contributions to defining critical thinking based on their perspectives. Philosophy has reiterated that critical thinking is a process of thinking according to a standard, psychology has established the operational definitions associated with critical thinking, and content specialists have demonstrated how critical thinking can be adopted across different content areas (Huitt , 1998). What it means for students to be capable of "critical thinking" According to the middle of Ferrett's article......State University. Accessed May 1998 from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/context/infoage.html Huitt, W. (1998). Critical thinking: an overview. Interactive psychology. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/cognition/critthnk.html Lipman, M. (1995). Critical thinking: what can it be? In A. Ornstein and L. Behar (Eds.) Contemporary Issues in Curriculum, pp. 145-152.Otley, D., (1980) The contingency theory of management accounting: achievements and prognosis, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol 5, No. 4, 413-428Sam, N. and Frederick, R (2006) “Critical thinking in organizations”, Team Performance Management, Vol. 12 Iss: 7/8, pp.272 – 277. Thomas, G. and Smoot, G. (1994, February/March). Critical thinking: an essential professional skill. Trust for Educational Leadership, 23, pp.34-38.