Critical Thinking and Analysis

Universidad de Oriente
Critical Thinking and Analysis

Critical Thinking and Analysis
• What is critical thinking?
• Critical thinking, also called critical analysis, is clear, rational thinking involving
critique. According to Barry K. Beyer (1995), critical thinking means making clear,
reasoned judgments.
• What is involve in the process of critical thinking?
• During the process of critical thinking, ideas should be reasoned, well thought out, and
judged.
• Critical thinking involves a complex combination of skills as the following:

Main characteristics of Critical Thinking
• Rationality
• Self-awareness
• Honesty
• Open-mindedness
• Discipline
• Judgment
Rationality
We are thinking critically when we:
• rely on reason rather than emotion,

• requireevidence, ignore no known evidence, and follow
evidence where it leads, and
• areconcerned more with finding the best explanation than
being right analyzing apparent confusion and asking
questions.
Self-awareness
• We are thinking critically when we
• weigh the influences of motives and bias, and

• recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or
point of view.
Honesty
• We are thinking critically when we recognize emotional impulses,

selfish motives, nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-
deception
Open-mindedness
• evaluate all reasonable inferences
• consider a variety of possible viewpoints or perspectives,
• remain open to alternative interpretations
• accept a new explanation, model, or paradigm because it explains the evidence
better, is simpler, or has fewer inconsistencies or covers more data
• accept new priorities in response to a reevaluation of the evidence or reassessment
of our real interests, and
• do not reject unpopular views out of hand.
Discipline

• are precise, meticulous, comprehensive, and exhaustive
• resist manipulation and irrational appeals, and
• avoid snap judgments.
Judgment

• recognize the relevance and/or merit of alternative assumptions
and perspectives
• recognize the extent and weight of evidence
• Critical thinkers are by nature skeptical. They approach texts with
the same skepticism and suspicion as they approach spoken
remarks.
• Critical thinkers are active, not passive. They ask questions and
analyze. They consciously apply tactics and strategies to uncover
meaning or assure their understanding.
• Critical thinkers do not take an egotistical view of the world. They
are open to new ideas and perspectives. They are willing to
challenge their beliefs and investigate competing evidence.
• Critical thinking enables us to recognize a wide range of subjective analyses
of otherwise objective data, and to evaluate how well each analysis might
meet our needs. Facts may be facts, but how we interpret them may vary.
• By contrast, passive, non-critical thinkers take a simplistic view of the
world.
• They see things in black and white, as either-or, rather than recognizing a
variety of possible understanding.
• They see questions as yes or no with no subtleties.
• They fail to see linkages and complexities.
• They fail to recognize related elements.
Non-critical thinkers take an egotistical view of the world
• They take their facts as the only relevant ones.

• They take their own perspective as the only sensible one.
• They take their goal as the only valid one
Critical thinking calls for the ability to:
• Recognize problems, to find workable means for meeting those
problems
• Understand the importance of prioritization and order of
precedence in problem solving
• Gather relevant information
• Recognize unstated assumptions and values
• Comprehend and use language with accuracy, clarity, and
discernment
• Interpret data, to appraise evidence and evaluate arguments
• Recognize the existence (or non-existence) of logical
relationships between propositions
• Draw warranted conclusions and generalizations
• Put to test the conclusions and generalizations at which one
arrives
• Reconstruct one's patterns of beliefs on the basis of wider
experience
• Render accurate judgments about specific things and qualities in
everyday life
In sum:
• "A persistenteffort to examine any belief or
supposed form of knowledge in the light of
the evidence that supports or refutes it and
the further conclusions to which it tends."
What is analysis?
ANALYSIS is breaking down the text or problem that you are

examining in order to understand each individual part. Analysis is
like taking an already completed puzzle apart OR breaking down a
chemical compound to look at the individual components that make
up that compound. The goal is to look at the individual pieces that
make up the whole.
It involves:
• Standing back from the information given and examining it

carefully from different angles
• Checking the accuracy of statements
• Checking the logic – whether points follow each other logically
• Spotting flaws or ‘jumps’ in the reasoning
• Identifying ‘gaps’ – arguments or information that might be
relevant but has been left out
• Checking for persuasive techniques, which encourage you to
agree.
Critical Thinking – an everyday activity
We tend to receive knowledge passively at many stages of

education, although we can be highly critical in other aspects of
life. Critical thinking and analysis is an everyday activity, even if
we don’t think of it as that. Every time you have to make a
decision, the process you go through involves critical thinking, and
this process can become almost automatic.

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Universidad de Oriente

Critical Thinking and Analysis

• Critical thinking involves a complex combination of skills as the following:

We are thinking critically when we:

• rely on reason rather than emotion,

• weigh the influences of motives and bias, and

• We are thinking critically when we recognize emotional impulses,

• We are thinking critically when we

• We are thinking critically when we

• They take their facts as the only relevant ones.

ANALYSIS is breaking down the text or problem that you are

• Standing back from the information given and examining it

We tend to receive knowledge passively at many stages of

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