Thinking & Reasoning Skills 

1. Bloom’s Taxonomy (Revised Version)

A framework that organizes cognitive skills from basic to advanced. It is widely used in science education to scaffold thinking.

2. Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific observations to broader generalizations.

3. Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from general principles to specific predictions.

4. Critical Thinking

A disciplined, self-reflective approach to evaluating information and arguments.

5. Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning

A process central to the scientific method:

6. Systems Thinking

Understanding how parts of a system interact and influence one another.

7. Modeling and Simulation Thinking

Constructing abstract representations of real-world phenomena.

8. Quantitative Reasoning

Using mathematics, measurement, and numerical analysis to understand phenomena.

9. Evidence-Based Reasoning

Using data to support or refute claims.

10. Analogical Reasoning

Using analogies or models from one domain to understand another.

11. Spatial Reasoning

Visualizing and manipulating spatial relationships.

12. Metacognition

Thinking about one’s own thinking.

• Helps scientists reflect on biases, monitor progress, adjust strategies, and improve learning.

13. Creative Thinking

Generating new hypotheses, methods, or explanations.

• Often overlooked in science, yet vital for innovation and problem-solving.