An Introduction to Critical Thinking in Psychology

1. S
Critical Thinking

2. Objective
S I can apply critical thinking skills to
psychological research.

3. Critical Thinking
S In IB writing assessments, you will be
required to use psychological research
studies as evidence to support a claim and to
critically examine that evidence.
S Critical Thinking: You can apply and evaluate
the knowledge appropriately and use it in the
analysis of psychological phenomena.

4. Types of Critical Thinking
S Evaluation of Method
S Connections to Major Debates
S Application to Society
S Connections to other studies and
explanations in psychology (Biological,
Cognitive, Sociocultural)

5. Evaluation of Method
S Explain the strengths and limitations of the way that
the study was conducted.
S Ethics: Was the study ethical?
S Reliable: Will the test lead to the same results
every time?
S Validity: Does the experiment test what it is meant
to test?
S Ecological Validity: Does the experiment show
how people will act in the real world?

6. Connections to Major Debates
S How does this evidence help answer major
questions in psychology?
S Nature vs. Nurture
S Reductionism vs. Holism
S Free-Will vs. Determinism

7. Application to Society
S How can this research be applied to the real
world?
S How can it help us better understand the
behaviors of humans?
S Can this information be used to help
individuals/society?

8. Connections to other Studies and
Levels of Analysis
S What studies have we examined that study
similar aspects?
S Do the studies defend or negate these
results?
S How would a psychologist from a different
Level of Analysis explain these results? Do
these explanations defend or negate the
results?