One of the primary goals of attending college is to become a critical thinker. As students evolve into lifelong learning they will have to navigate an incredible amount of information related to their studies and personal lives. The ability to explore their world will be dependent on their research and information literacy skills. In fact, when employers were asked about the information skills desired in new employees, they “placed a high premium on graduates’ abilities for searching online, finding information with tools other than search engines, and identifying the best solution from all the information they had gathered” (Head, 2012).
Critical Thinking in Academic Research will introduce students to the techniques and principles of critical thinking. However, a commitment to lifelong learning is required for critical thinking, it takes more than a single course or reading a book. In order for students to develop their own arguments, they need to find supporting evidence. This text provides guidance on developing research questions and finding resources to answer the questions.
This textbook is adapted from four sources. Choosing and Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research which addresses information literacy and research-based assignments. In addition three texts: PHI-130 Critical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking: Analysis and Evaluation of Argument – Version 3 provide the foundation for critical thinking in relation to research. The authors thank all for their work and willingness to openly share with other educators.
Choosing & Using Sources: A guide to academic research by Ohio State University Libraries, is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Modifications: Text revised for clarity and flow
Critical Thinking: Analysis and Evaluation of Argument by Martha Bailey, Shirlee Geiger, Hannah Love & Martin Wittenberg licensed under a CC BY 4.0. Modifications: revised for clarity and flow
PHI -130 Critical Reasoning by Thomas Edison State College is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Modifications: Revised text for clarity and flow
