Critical thinking is a cognitive process that involves analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting information or arguments in a logical and systematic manner. It is about questioning everything you read, weighing up the various perspectives, and using evidence to form opinions. Here’s how to develop critical thinking.
What is Critical Thinking?
The word “critical” can mean different things in different contexts.
It can mean something of importance, or can also mean to criticise something (pointing out the negative aspects of something).
Critical thinking does not mean looking only for the most important aspects of a topic or to criticise ideas.
It also means you must not accept what you read or hear at face value; you must always questioning the information, ideas and arguments you find in your studies.
Critical thinking is about questioning and learning with an open mind.
Critical thinking is a key skill that should be applied to all aspects of your studies. As a student, you need to be able to think critically about the research you use in your work.
You need to ask the right questions when reading the work of others. Your writing needs to show you have the ability to weigh up different arguments and perspectives and use evidence to help you form your own opinions, arguments, theories and ideas.
- Don’t take everything you read for granted
- Identify potential strengths and weaknesses in a text.
- Evaluate what you read and relate it to other information.
The focus of critical thinking is often referred to as the “argument” (the message that is being conveyed). In critical thinking, a conclusion is often a deduction, which draws together the argument, and makes a logical assumption about how to interpret the reasoning behind a viewpoint.
Importance of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking helps to:
- Interpret evidence, data, arguments, etc. and be able to identify the significance to your academic/assignment question
- Develop well-reasoned arguments of your own for your academic work/assignments
- Draw on evidence to justify your arguments and ideas
- Synthesise your thoughts and the thoughts of authors/researchers/theorists.
Benefits of Critical thinking include:
- Improved attention and observation
- More focused reading
- Improved ability to identify and respond to the salient points in a discussion or text
- Knowledge of how to get your point across more easily
Developing Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is associated with reasoning or with our capacity for rational thought. The word rational means using reasons to solve problems.
Reasoning begins with ourselves:
- Having reasons for what we believe and do, and being aware of what these are
- Critically evaluating our own beliefs and actions
- Being able to present to others the reasons for our beliefs and actions
Critical analysis of other people’s reasons can involve:
- Identifying their reasons and conclusions
- Analysing how they select, combine and order reasons to construct a line of reasoning
- Evaluating whether their reasons support the conclusions they draw
- Evaluating whether their reasons are well founded, based on good evidence
- Identifying flaws in their reasoning
Critical thinking involves three stages:
- Description stage: you ask questions such as: What? Where? Why? and Who? These help you establish the background and context.
- Analysis stage: you ask questions such as: How? Why? and What if? These help you to examine methods and processes, reasons and causes, and the alternative options.
- Evaluation stage: Finally, you ask ‘so what?’ and ‘what next?’ questions to make judgments and consider the relevance; implications; significance and value of something.
Cottrell (2005) asserts that critical thinking is a complex process of deliberation which involves a wide range of skills and attitudes:
- Being able to read between the lines, seeing behind surfaces, and identifying false or unfair assumptions
- Recognising techniques used to make certain positions more appealing than others, such as false logic and persuasive devices
- Reflecting on issues in a structured way, bringing logic and insight to bear
- Drawing conclusions about whether arguments are valid and justifiable, based on good evidence and sensible assumptions
- Presenting a point of view in a structured, clear, well reasoned way that convinces others
Scepticism is important in critical thinking.
In the context of critical thinking, scepticism refers to one being open to the possibility that their knowledge at any given point in time may be only part of a bigger picture.
Ennis (1987) identified a number of temperaments and competencies associated with critical thinking which focused on such as the ability to reflect sceptically and The ability to think in a reasoned way.
Critical thinking promotes the constructive use of scepticism to analyse what is before you – be it a text, an image, an event unfolding etc.
Critical Writing
Critical reading is an important precursor to critical writing. The most characteristic features of critical reading are that you will:
- Examine the evidence or arguments presented
- Check out any influences on the evidence or arguments
- Check out the limitations of study design or focus
- Examine the interpretations made and decide to what extent you are prepared to accept the authors’ arguments, opinions, or conclusions.
Synthesis is an important part of good academic writing.
It is the process of combining a number of arguments or sources into a coherent new whole. As part of synthesis, you compare, contrast and evaluate what the literature has to offer.
The most characteristic features of critical writing are:
- A clear and confident refusal to accept the conclusions of other writers without evaluating the arguments and evidence that they provide
- A balanced presentation of reasons why the conclusions of other writers may be accepted or may need to be treated with caution
- A clear presentation of your own evidence and argument, leading to your conclusion
- A recognition of the limitations in your own evidence, argument, and conclusion.
Related: Here’s how to do a Research Project
References
Baron, J. & Sternberg, R (Eds.), Teaching thinking skills: Theory and practice. New York: W.H. Freeman.
Cottrell, S. (2010). Critical thinking skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Ennis, R.H. (1987). A taxonomy of critical thinking dispositions and abilities.
