Analytic Stage of Thinking

Even for practical purposes theory generally turns out the most important thing in the end.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

In the analytic phase, you must identify the parts of thinking, and then your analysis is guided by asking questions about these elements of thought. Paul and Elder break these down into eight structures. By analyzing thought, it can be reconstructed to ensure the highest quality of critical thinking.
Explore the following interactive model for analyzing argument or reasoning to view questions that can help you identify the elements and begin to analyze your thinking. The components are often interrelated and not necessarily linear.

Concepts

Theories, definitions, axioms, laws, principles, models
All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, concepts and ideas.

• Identify key concepts and explain them clearly.

• Consider alternative concepts or alternative definitions of concepts.

• Make sure you are using concepts with precision.

Clarify your concepts

Concepts are ideas, theories, laws, principles, or hypotheses we use in thinking to make sense of things. Be clear about the concepts you are using and use them justifiably.

Questions you can ask about concepts
• What idea am I using in my thinking? Is this idea causing problems for me or for others?
• I think this is a good theory, but could you explain it more fully?
• What is the main hypothesis you are using in your reasoning?
• Are you using this term in keeping with established usage?
• What main distinctions should we draw in reasoning through this problem?
• What idea is this author using in his or her thinking? Is there a problem with it?

Critical Thinking in Research

Resources
In the unit introduction, we mentioned the importance of critical thinking skills in applying evidence-based solutions to create desirable outcomes in psychology. In Unit 2, we began locating and evaluating high-quality research to support our practice in the field of psychology. In this unit, we add critical thinking tools to our repertoire to further critique research and its relevancy to our research questions and practice. Evaluate one of the articles you located for your Unit 7 assignment, using Paul and Elder's (2007) Elements of Thought that you explored in the studies. Then respond to the following questions:

• From what point of view is the author writing?

• What is the main concept the author is attempting to express?

• How are the author's claims supported by data and evidence?

• How is the article relevant to your research question and the field of psychology?

• What might occur if you implement the ideas in the article in your psychology practice?

• How could you integrate the use of Bloom's in this analysis to further critique your psychology research?