When monitoring results in the critical thinking process, observe the results without making any ______ about whether the plan is working.

• A. Judgments
• B. Opinions
• C. Assumptions
• D. Conclusions

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to stay objective while you’re gathering data. When monitoring results, you observe what the data shows without labeling it as a success or failure yet. This helps prevent bias from creeping in, so you can evaluate the plan based on actual evidence rather than impressions. Judgments are evaluations about how good or bad something is, and forming them too early can color the interpretation of results. Opinions are personal beliefs not necessarily tied to the data, which can mislead you. Assumptions are untested beliefs about how things work, potentially biasing what you expect to find. Conclusions are final determinations after analyzing evidence, which should come after you’ve looked at the data. So, withholding judgments during monitoring keeps the assessment honest and data-driven.