SDCC Library: Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking

What is Critical Thinking?

What is critical thinking?

"Critical thinking is a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write. The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning “able to judge or discern”. Good critical thinking is about making reliable judgements based on reliable information."

From What is critical thinking?

Books in the Spotlight

Use the library catalog to find books in both our print and electronic collections. Click the links below to check on their availability. Circulating books are located on the third floor.

Critical Thinking : Tools for Evaluating Research by Peter M. Nardi
Call Number: Available online
Publication Date: 2017-08-15
Critical Thinking prepares students to thoughtfully interpret information and develop a sophisticated understanding of our increasingly complex and multi-mediated world. Peter M. Nardi's approach helps students sharpen their critical thinking skills and improve their analytical reasoning, enabling them to ward off gullibility, develop insightful skepticism, and ask the right questions about material online, in the mass media, or in scholarly publications. Students will learn to understand common errors in thinking; create reliable and valid research methodologies; understand social science concepts needed to make sense of popular and academic claims; and communicate, apply, and integrate the methods learned in both research and daily life. A companion website includes links to articles and books mentioned in the chapters, illustrative items, videos, and current news and research that elaborate on each chapter's key concepts.
Critical Thinking: the Basics by Stuart Hanscomb
Call Number: Available online
Publication Date: 2017-09-19
Critical Thinking: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the field of critical thinking, drawing on philosophy, communication and psychology. Emphasising its relevance to decision making (in personal, professional and civic life), academic literacy and personal development, this book supports the reader in understanding and developing the knowledge and skills needed to avoid poor reasoning, reconstruct and evaluate arguments, and engage constructively in dialogues. Topics covered include: the relationship between critical thinking, emotions and the psychology of persuasion the role of character dispositions such as open-mindedness, courage and perseverance argument identification and reconstruction fallacies and argument evaluation. With discussion questions/exercises and suggestions for further reading at the end of each main chapter, this book is an essential read for students approaching the field of critical thinking for the first time, and for the general reader wanting to improving their thinking skills and decision making abilities.
Critical Thinking for Students Learn the Skills of Critical Assessment and Effective Argument by Roy van den Brink-Budgen
Call Number: Available online
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Critical Thinking Skills for Dummies by Martin Cohen
Call Number: Available Online (via O'Reilly Online Learning)
Publication Date: 2024-05-08
Learn how to argue points effectively, analyze information, and make sound judgments The ability to think clearly and critically is a lifelong benefit that you can apply in any situation that calls for reflection, analysis, and planning. Being able to think systematically and solve problems is also a great career asset. Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies helps you hone your thinking abilities and become a better communicator. You'll find hands-on, active instruction and exercises that you can put to work today as you navigate social media and news websites, chat with AI, fact-check your own and others' views, and more. Become a thinking machine, with this Dummies guide. Identify other people's arguments and conclusions--and spot holes in them Evaluate evidence and produce more effective arguments in any situation Read between the lines of what people say and form your own judgments Apply critical thinking to school or college assignments to improve your academic performance This is the perfect Dummies title for students, researchers, and everyone who seeks to improve their reasoning and analysis ability.

Key Terms to Try

In general, search using one or two nouns, combined by AND or OR.
Do more than one search, using different words that cover the same concept.
If you find too much information, take out a word. If you don't find enough, add one.
Use an asterisk (*) to search for variations on a word. For example, searching for student* will bring up records on student and students.
For more information, see Develop a topic

These are only a few examples of critical thinking-related terms found in the library catalog but you can also use these terms in a database. When searching articles, which are shorter and more numerous, use more specific words or more search terms.

"Critical thinking" - the quotes, "", lets you search the words together.
Reasoning
Logic

Websites

Critical Thinking Web
"Over 100 free tutorials on different aspects of thinking skills. They are organized into modules."
Maintained by Joe Lau, Philosophy Department, University of Hong Kong
From website.
Library of Critical Thinking Resources
From the Foundation for Critical Thinking, which seeks " to promote essential change in education and society through the cultivation of fairminded [sic] critical thinking."
Cultivating Critical Thinking and Reflective Thought in the 21st Century
From the Reboot Foundation. "The foundation funds efforts to better integrate critical thinking in the daily lives of people around the world. It conducts surveys and opinion polls, leads its own research, and supports the work of independent scholars." -- About Us.
For Teachers: Critical Thinking Resources
"This page contains resources you can use to help teach critical thinking skills to your students. "
For Teachers: How to Teach Critical Thinking
Sections on critical thinking in literature, scientific reasoning, through problem-solving and the new, in politics, and in revising and asking deep questions.
The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts andTools