L3DC – Study and Presentation Skills

Topic 5:
Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning

© NCC Education Limited

 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.2

Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:
• The importance of a critical thinking and reasoning
approach
• Key concepts in critical thinking
• Critical questioning
• Critical thinking when reading -identifying and evaluating
arguments
• Critical Thinking and Data
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.3

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic students will be able to:
• Understand the key concepts and principles of
critical thinking and reasoning.
• Use critical and analytical thinking when reading
and writing.
• Develop criteria for evaluating an argument and
evidence in a piece of writing.
• Identify and draw valid conclusions.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.4

The Unit Roadmap

• Getting Ready for Study • Academic Writing

• Learning and Skills Audit • Writing a Research Report
• Gathering Information – • Data Collection
Sources and Reading • Developing a Presentation
• Gathering Information – • Examinations and
Lectures and Tutorials Revision
• Using Critical Thinking • Unit Summary and
and Reasoning Assignment
• Planning for an assignment
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.5

Do You Know This?

Things that cause cancer... according to one UK newspaper:

• Sunscreen • Bras
• Babies • Having a big head
• Baby food • Being a woman
• Crayons • Being a man
• Flip-flops
As independent learners, we need to think for
ourselves, to question, and looking at things with fresh
eyes, and from different perspectives.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.6

Discussion Session
What does the term ‘critical thinking’ mean to you?
• Note those things that come to mind when you
consider the term ‘critical thinking’.
• List the activities you have undertaken in the last
month that you believe required critical thinking.
(5mins)
• Compare your notes with a neighbour.
(5mins)
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.7

Critical Thinking and Reasoning

The Essence of Critical Thinking and Reasoning….
• To understand what to do and what to believe, we
must look beyond surface assumptions.
• Reasoned judgement is based on objective
analysis and evaluation of the evidence.
• Specific skills and dispositions will help us, as well
as self-reflection.
NB: Reasoning - Works together with critical thinking so decisions are
based on facts, evidence, and logical conclusions.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.8

Critical Thinking Disposition

A strong disposition toward critical thinking means
consistent internal motivation to engage with problems
and make decisions using critical thinking.
The person…
• consistently values critical thinking
• believes that using critical thinking skills => good
judgments
• intends to approach problems and decisions by
applying critical thinking skills as best as he/she
can.
Dwyer (2017)
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.9

Dispositions (Dewey, 2017)

 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.10

Critical Thinking Skills

Analysis Reflective
I read and understood the Judgement
Evaluation
argument, making Now that note
I haveof the read and
structure of the argument,
1st understood the2nd I canInference 3rd
the argument,
source ofgather each of the the propositions
Now that I have
propositions Now
read and
and that I have
decide read
Now that I haveandevaluated the
I read and understood the understood the argument, I can argument I can pick out the
and
argument,anymaking
bias the
which
note of theauthor
were: may
relevant
gather have
understood
to
the propositions the rest
and decide the argument,
propositions that were I all
can relevant,
structure of the argument, the
in support
source of each of of
or objection
the argument
the propositions
to
which the
were: relevant to the rest
gather
and central
of the argument
the propositions
and centralclaim,
claim,
and
credible and logical, decide
and structure
them in a logical fashion so that
central
and any bias the author
came
may claim.
have
from
came
credible
from which were:
credible
sources
sources
and relevant
and I can infer ato theconclusion
logical rest
in support or objection to the when presented together, which or decide whether I
central claim.
when presented of the argument
ones possessed the greatest
together, which and central
agree with claim,
the author’s central
logical strength. claim.
ones possessed the greatest came from credible sources and
Analysis Evaluation
when presented Inference
together, which
logical strength.
ones possessed the greatest
(Dwyer, 2017) logical strength.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.11

Reflective Judgment
How we consider changing our views on a topic (or
even how we think) in the light of uncertainty or new
information. (Dwyer, 2017)
• The ‘correctness’ of any given solution to an ill-
structured problem is uncertain; we depend on our
ability to judge the situation reflectively.
• This means reflecting on what we have just read or
heard and on the knowledge we already have.
The thinking of Logical Our OWN
OTHERS Conclusion thinking
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.12

Critical Thinking and Uncertainty

What is the best way of decreasing global warming?

Make everyone drive electric cars?

Cut down on cattle farming to lower methane emissions?

"Although research is still ongoing in this area, mathematical

models based on existing research findings suggest that by
making small decreases in emissions in all walks of life,
whether it be travel, farming, industry or energy production,
emissions around the globe will decrease substantially".
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.13

The Nature of Knowledge

• Issues in HE rarely yield single,
clear, right/wrong answers!
• Don’t believe that the latest
knowledge must be correct;
history suggests most accepted
knowledge is overturned
eventually.

All knowledge is provisional. So, knowledge is not

It can be overtaken by necessarily truth. A
discoveries and advances in proposition only holds until
thinking. disproved…
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.14

Deduction Vs Induction
How does knowledge advance?
• Deduction - taking a theory and testing it
empirically to verify or refute it - a process of
conjecture and refutation.

• Induction - accumulating evidence in support of a

proposition - arguing from specific instances to
produce a generalised formula.

Smale and Fowlie (2015)

 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.15

Behave Like a Detective!

Suppose you have just read an article that says that the
cougar population of the Upper Peninsula is increasing.

Why is the population increasing? Is there an abundance of deer to hunt?

What effect is this increase having on the deer population?
Where is the population increasing? All over the Upper Peninsula, or just
isolated locations?
Who is affected by the increase in the population of cougars? Hunters?
Wolves?
When did this increase start? How long will it continue?
How can we stabilise the cougar population?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.16

Constantly Ask Questions

Critical Thinking is not driven by answers; it is driven
by the questions that you ask.

• Remember Kipling’s poem! I keep six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);
• Turn questions on their Their names are What and Why
head! and When
• Use broad angle questions! And How and Where and Who…
Rudyard Kipling
• Keep questions objective!
• Dig deep!

Based on Cottrell (2019)

 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.17

Checkpoint Summary
• The essence of Critical Thinking is to look beyond our
surface assumptions to make a reasoned judgement on
objective analysis and evaluation of the evidence.
• Specific skills and dispositions will help us, as well self-
reflection.
• Issues in many HE subjects rarely yield single clear,
right/wrong answers.
• Knowledge is provisional and advances by processes of
deduction and induction.
• Critical questioning is central to both processes.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.18

Critical Thinking when Reading

Critical thinking when reading a text involves:
1. Identify the argument
2. Critically evaluate the argument
3. Question surface appearances and check for hidden
assumptions, agendas, or persuasive devices
4. Identify evidence
5. Evaluate the evidence according to valid criteria
6. Identify the writer’s conclusions
7. Decide whether the evidence provided supports those
conclusions. Based on Cottrell (2019)
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.19

1. Identify the Argument

Most texts you need to read will include an argument.
In academic writing, an ‘argument’ is:
• a line of reasoning, or
• an angle or a point of view, or
• a position that is being defended, or
• a case that is being made.
- backed up by evidence and examples, and
- leading to conclusions.

What does this writer want me to accept?

What reasons does she/he present? Is this really convincing?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.20

2. Evaluate the Argument

An argument can be critically evaluated in terms of
whether it contains:

• Relevant, contributing and sufficient propositions

(reasons)
• Logical progression
• False premises
• Flawed reasoning
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.21

3. Question Surface Appearances

Consider such factors as:
• Is the evidence what it appears to be?
• Might there be other explanations, interpretations or
conclusions?
• Has all information been provided? Might different
conclusions follow with more details?
• Are there interested parties who would gain from us
believing/concluding this?
• Are there any hidden assumptions or agendas?
• Is the evidence from reliable, disinterested sources?
Look again at the ‘Rochborough Health’ passage.
• What hidden agendas might there be in this piece?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.22

4. Identify Evidence
Identifying evidence in the text is usually fairly
straightforward. Look for....
• Statistics • Findings from
• Examples experiments, surveys,
• Case histories questionnaires, case
studies.
• Details of events and
sources.
NB: Could be anecdotal - peoples’ reports of experiences.
What evidence is given in the Rochborough Health
passage?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.23

5. Evaluate the Evidence

How can we decide which evidence is better?
Use valid criteria to evaluate it...
• Check the date of the research
• Check the source of your information
• Check for bias in your sources
• Beware the allure of numbers and statistics (later)
• Emotive language and persuader words
Use these criteria to evaluate the evidence in the
‘Rochborough Health’ passage
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.24

6. Identify the Writer’s Conclusions

How can we find the conclusions? ....
• Generally, at the end of a piece of writing. Also found at the
beginning or even in the middle!
• Often ‘signposted’ by words such as ‘therefore’, ‘so’, ‘hence’
or ‘thus’; or by using imperatives such as ‘must’, ‘should’ or
‘need to’.
Identify the conclusion in the ‘Rochborough Health’ passage

• Implicit conclusions - implied by the reasoning and

context.
Complete activity 2 >>>>>>>>
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.25

Activity 2 – Implicit Conclusions

For each of the following short texts:
• Decide whether there is an explicit conclusion and, if so, say
what this is.
• Say what you think the implicit conclusions would be.

1. You want a plant. You like this one and you can afford it.
2. Voting closed early, but only Party A voters had been told this
would happen. Party A supporters stopped some opposition party
voters from voting. Therefore, the election was unfair.
3. The tree is dangerous. It is leaning over the children’s playground.
It is heavy, rotten and could break at any time.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.26

7. Does the Evidence Support the

Conclusions?
Or, do the conclusions flow from the evidence? Consider....
Proposition 1 - The karate champion is a woman. (Verifiable
fact)
Proposition 2 - My mother is a woman. (Verifiable fact)
Conclusion - My mother is a woman, therefore she is a karate
champion. (False conclusion)

• Does the evidence in the ‘Rochborough Health’ passage support

the conclusion drawn?
• What assumptions are made in the passage?
NB - Check for false assumptions!
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.27

Checkpoint Summary
• Questioning is central to Critical Thinking.
• Critical thinking when reading a text involves seven key
steps:
o Identify the argument
o Critically evaluate the argument
o Question surface appearances and check for hidden
assumptions, agendas, or persuasive devices
o Identify evidence
o Evaluate the evidence according to valid criteria
o Identify the writer’s conclusions
o Decide whether the evidence provided supports those
conclusions.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.28

Critical Analysis and Data

Can we trust numbers and statistics?
Some key questions...
• Are the data relevant?
• Do numbers provide proof?
• What kind of ‘sample’ was used? Representative? How big?
• What kind of ‘averaging’ was used? (Mean, median, mode)
• Are the data based on estimates?
• Are the data likely to change?
• Are the data still up to date?
• What was actually measured?
• What is the context?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.29

Discussion Session
Suppose someone won a TV song-writing competition by gaining
56% of the phoned-in votes.
Would a music producer be wise to invest in this artist?

The producer would need to know more…

• How many people watched the show?
• What proportion of them phoned in?
• Did they represent those who pay for such music? Perhaps:
o the winner was supported by people who phoned in more than once.
o the winner was popular with phone voters but not with people who
pay for this music.
o phone lines were not working properly and only 100 people voted.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.30

Topic Summary
• Issues in many HE subjects rarely yield single clear, right/wrong
answers.
• All knowledge is provisional and can be overtaken by discoveries and
advances in thinking.
• The essence of Critical Thinking is to look beyond our surface
assumptions to make a reasoned judgement on objective analysis
and evaluation of the evidence.
• Specific skills and dispositions will help us, as well self-reflection.
• These skills can be applied to thinking critically when reading,
working with data, listening and writing.
• Questioning is central to Critical Thinking.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.31

Preparing for the Tutorial and the

Next Topic
• The tutorial will follow this lecture, ensure that you
have completed all the necessary private study
exercises beforehand.

• The next topic will be on planning for an

assignment.

• Ensure that you complete the necessary private

study exercises to help prepare for the next topic.
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.32

References

• Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook, 5th Edition, Bloomsbury Academic
• Cottrell, S. (2023) Critical Thinking Skills Handbook, 4th Edition, Bloomsbury Academic
• Dwyer, C.P. (2017). Critical thinking: Conceptual perspectives and practical guidelines.
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Facione, P. (2015). 2015 Update on the critical thinking mindset from Delphi Report.
[Link] content/uploads/ia/pdf/Delphi-Research- [Link]
• Glaser, E. M. (1941) An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking. New York:
Bureau of Publications,
• Kipling, R. (2023) From The Elephant’s Child
[Link] (accessed 20/1023)
• McMillan, K and Weyers J. (2006) The Smarter Student, Pearson Education, Harlow
• McMillan, K and Weyers, J. (2021) The Study Skills Book, Pearson
• Roberts, Addae-Kyeremeh and Rezaie (2021)
• Smale, R and Fowlie, J (2015)How to Succeed at University: An Essential Guide to
Academic Skills, Personal Development & Employability, 2nd Edition, Sage Publications
Topic 5 – Using Critical Thinking and
Reasoning

Any Questions?
 Using Critical Thinking and Reasoning Topic 5- 5.34

Quiz
Which of these statements describes critical thinking? Select one or
more:
1. Challenging people’s worth as you engage with their work, and
criticising someone or what they do.
2. Evaluating, making judgements and arriving at a conclusion based on
available evidence.
3. Being open-minded, inquisitive, and making inferences using inductive
or deductive reasoning.
4. Being able to distinguish between facts and opinions.
5. The assumption that your own knowledge and experience is typical of
others’.
6. Restating a claim that has been made describing an event.
7. The ability to see things from different perspectives and to challenge
your own assumptions.