When someone makes a claim, it should be examined from multiple perspectives to determine its validity. Key evaluation criteria include the claimant's expertise, their potential gain, the evidentiary justification, and the consensus of other researchers.

Evaluating Claims

Exercising healthy skepticism is a necessary component of critical thinking. It involves questioning the validity of claims and carefully examining the evidence before accepting information as true.

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Critical thinking is the active application of a set of skills to understand and evaluate information. Honed through psychology education, this skill is crucial for assessing the reliability and usefulness of information in a world full of competing 'facts,' many designed to be misleading. The practice of critical thinking includes maintaining skepticism, recognizing internal biases, using logical thought, asking relevant questions, and making careful observations.

Critical Thinking in Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A classmate tells you they read an online article that claims, 'Eating chocolate every day improves memory.' The article is on a website that sells chocolate and quotes one person who says their memory improved after eating chocolate daily. As someone practicing critical evaluation, what is the most reasonable first step to take?

The process of critical thinking involves several key practices. These include maintaining a healthy attitude of skepticism towards claims, recognizing one's own internal biases, applying logical thinking to analyze arguments, asking appropriate and probing questions, and making systematic observations to gather evidence.

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