Comparison of the Effect of Critical Thinking on the Decision-Making Process in Scientific and Social Elites

This research is aimed at comparing the effect of critical thinking on the decision-making process in scientific and social elites. In this causal-comparative study, the sample was selected via cluster and purposive sampling. The ability of critical thinking, which has previously been created, is measured by stimulating analytical, inferential, and evaluative thinking skills during the group and strategic decision-making process and social conflicts. The major findings of this study indicate that critical thinking and decision making skills were more in scientific elite than social ones, and the effect of critical thinking on the decision-making process in scientific elites is significant. Also, the inferential thinking explains 11% of the decision-making process.