Critical thinking
Introduction
What you will learn
Critical thinking is a key part of being an intellectual. It means thinking in a careful, organised and thoughtful way. It is also a highly valued skill in the workplace. According to the World Economic Forum (2016), critical thinking is the second most important skill for future jobs, just after complex problem solving.
This module will help you build your critical thinking skills by:
- Looking at different types of information, where it comes from, and how to judge its quality
- Helping you understand your own thinking and how personal bias can affect it
- Learning how arguments are made and how to assess them properly
Information
Take a moment to think about the question below. Once you have an answer, flip the card to learn more:
Information can come in many forms, such as facts, gossip, rumours, theories and knowledge. Because of this, it is important to check how trustworthy the things you hear, see or read are. Try this short quiz to learn some useful tips for checking credibility:
When you are checking a source, you should at least look for the following:
Authority: Is the author qualified to write about the topic? Do they have the right education or experience? Have they written other articles on the same subject? If the author is an organisation, is it well-known and reliable? Could they have a hidden reason for sharing the information, such as making money or pushing a political view?
Purpose: Why was the content made? Is it meant to inform by giving a fair and evidence-based view? Is it trying to persuade by showing only one side? Is it trying to sell something?
Evidence: Are there facts or proof to support the claims? Are there references or links to more information? Are the references written by people who are qualified in the topic? Can you find other sources online that agree with the points being made?
If you are checking a source for an assessment, make sure it meets the basic requirements. Has it been published recently enough? Is it in a format that is allowed? Always follow the instructions for your assessment so that you do not lose marks.
Fact-checking
When you come across new information, you may need to look beyond the original source to check if the claims are true. This is especially important if the information has not been reviewed before being published, or if it comes from an organisation you do not know well. So, what is the best way to fact-check a source?
The most effective way to check if information is trustworthy is by using a method called lateral reading. Instead of reading the page from top to bottom, you read across by opening new tabs and searching for more information while you read. This helps you check the facts as you go. It includes:
- Looking up more details about the author or organisation that created the content
- Searching to confirm any statistics or numbers mentioned
To learn more about lateral reading, watch this short video made by the Stanford History Education Group: