Critical thinking

Critical thinking is a skill that has wide application in life.

It involves carefully examining and analysing information to judge its value as well as considering other views and explanations before accepting the truthfulness of that information.

Critical thinking simply means that you are making a logical and rational assessment of information,

assessing both its strengths and weaknesses.

Only by carrying out this critical analysis of past research

can you ensure that your own research is built on sound foundations

Never ignore potential

explanations or interpretations

You must put personal

feelings or biases aside.

For example, you should not accept an assertion merely because it is

in print or is delivered by a person in a position of authority.

Scepticism

means always questioning assumptions or conclusions and analysing whether the evidence presented supports the results.

Open-mindedness

means considering all sides of an issue.

Objectivity

means taking an impartial and disinterested approach.

You must judge what you are considering based on the logic and evidence presented,

not on subjective beliefs or assumptions.

You should check the rigour

of the process used to get to that assertion.

Critical thinking involves looking for the evidence that supports arguments put forward by

other researchers, not accepting them on face value.

Critical thinking is essential in

psychological research.

Almost all research that you carry out in psychology will involve

reading the works of others.

Three key principles underpin critical thinking:

scepticism, objectivity and open-mindedness.

It is crucial that you develop an ability to look critically at what other researchers have concluded,

the evidence they have presented in support of those conclusions and the methods they used to obtain that evidence.

Critical thinking is a skill that is essential in allowing you to decide for yourself how to interpret and evaluate

the worth of information you read in scholarly journals and books.

be flexible and willing to accept evidence that might be contrary

to your personal experience.

To apply critical thinking does not mean

you are criticising another viewpoint.