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When medical students learn about a new disease, they often feel they
have its symptoms—even if it's a rare disease caused by a worm
found only in a place they've never visited.
In the same way, students writing research papers sometimes feel that
their opinion changes with every article they read. A student researching
obesity might feel, "It's ridiculous that the "food police" make
us feel that everything we put in our mouths can give us cancer or
make us fat." But then comes a question: "Should
we limit advertising that makes children want high-fat and high-sugar
treats?"
With complex issues, there's usually some truth to be found on all sides.
How can you sort it out?
Paradoxically, the most productive approach is often
to let yourself be confused for awhile. Read, react, read
some more. Look for things you can agree with. Notice contradictions: A study
sponsored by the drug maker's study says this vaccine is safe. Some
parents say it causes autism. Ask questions: Is the study biased ?
Is there any hard evidence to support the parents' stories?
As you ask questions, you will be developing criteria, or standards,
by which to judge the information and arguments you've read.
Hints
for Forming an Opinion
- Look over your notes to find themes:
ideas that are repeated or ideas that relate to each
other.
- Choose one source that seems particularly complete
or trustworthy. Take notes on it first. As
you work with other sources, take notes
only on material that confirms or contradicts
your main source.
- Organize opposing
points of view using either using either point-by-point
comparison or
the block
method.
- Read about critical thinking.
Internet
Resources
 Developing
a Research Question
Developing
a Thesis
Fundamentals
of Critical Thinking (Rowles)
Being
Logical (Darling)
Critical
Thinking (Robin Wood's introduction to assessing claims and logical
fallacies)
Our
Concept of Critical Thinking (The Critical Thinking
Community)
Becoming
a Critic of Your Thinking (Elder & Paul)
The
Critical Mind Is a Questioning Mind: Learning How to Ask Powerful,
Probing Questions (Paul & Elder)
Developing
as Rational Persons: Viewing Our Development in Stages (Elder & Paul)
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