According to Michael Scriven and Richard Paul, strong critical thinkers are universally effective across all domains.

The assertion that strong critical thinkers are universally effective across all domains is considered false because critical thinking skills can manifest differently depending on the context or domain in which they are applied. Michael Scriven and Richard Paul emphasize that while the foundational skills of critical thinking—such as analysis, evaluation, and synthesis—are important, their effectiveness can vary significantly based on specific subject matters, cultural contexts, and situational factors.

In practice, a critical thinker might excel in one area, such as scientific reasoning, but may not display the same effectiveness in another, such as ethical decision-making. The nuances of different fields require tailored approaches to critical thinking, as the methodologies, content knowledge, and problem-solving strategies can differ widely. Therefore, it's essential to recognize that while critical thinking skills are broadly applicable, their effectiveness is not uniform across all domains.