In a world where anyone with a smartphone can share their thoughts on pretty much any subject, it's getting harder to distinguish fact from opinion.
Teaching others how to develop better judgment is an essential component of my job as a college instructor of fact-checking and media literacy. Good decision-making, whether it's about what information to pass on or how to make an informed choice about your work or your family, is a skill that can be learned. And while it's sometimes harder in the digital age, it's not a genetic gift, nor do you need to be wise beyond your years to become better at it.
Start by trusting your gut, then keep going
I tell my students that the training starts by trusting your gut. If a bit of information, an idea or an opportunity you encounter smells fishy to you, it often is. Listening to your inner voice can help filter out poor decisions, but research shows that it can go only so far. It's the choices you make after you originally identify a problem that help build good judgment over time.
Not sure where to start? Here are some key science-backed concepts that can help you develop better critical-thinking skills.
Slow the thinking down
Slowing down your thinking, a concept known as cognitive reflection, gives you time to expose any blind spots that prevent you from seeing the big picture. A recent paper found that people who have better cognitive reflection skills make better decisions, since the process of pausing and reflecting helps filter out weak evidence.
So before you sign a long-term contract, order something you saw advertised online or download a dubious app, take a break before taking any action. And don't assume that every online interaction you have is with a real person who has your best interest at heart.
Learn to read the room
While some people do instinctively make better decisions than others, common sense can also be cultivated. According to research from a business school at the University of Pennsylvania, social perceptiveness, the ability to read people, is a significant factor in a person's level of common sense.
To boost your social intelligence, start by reflecting on your own emotions, working on active listening and practicing patience. These skills can guide your brain toward better reading of a room, so you can evaluate information more effectively.
Review the calls you already made
Judgment improves when you've seen many situations play out, both good and bad. According to one study, people who analyzed past problems, evaluated their own choices and identified what worked and what didn't were able to boost their decision-making skills.
And if you haven't always made the right call, here's a bit of good news: this effect was strongest in those who previously had made bad decisions.
Watch how other people decide
Your own judgment is only one piece of the puzzle; the rest comes from other people. Learning from them can help you gain wisdom without the price of making your own mistakes.
One study found that watching others can help reduce bias and improve judgment. In other words, paying attention to someone else's decision-making process helps you spot errors in their reasoning, which then improves yours.
So don't put pressure on yourself to make decisions in a vacuum. Learn from others' mistakes. It may help you sidestep your own.