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Analyze and synthesize complex information. Critically evaluate ideas and options. Develop and test hypotheses. Analyze and interpret findings.

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Jump to section:听Understanding Analytical & Critical Reasoning听| Cultivating Analytical & Critical Reasoning | Quick Guide听to听Becoming an Effective Analytical and Critical Thinker听|听Taking Action | Need Help?听|听Resources | References

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Understanding Analytical & Critical Reasoning听

Analytical and critical reasoning is the rational process through which you 鈥渙btain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data鈥�, while exercising logical thinking in analyzing issues and making proper decisions, to ultimately solve problems.^[]听

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Why does it matter?

Analytical and critical reasoning is a highly transferable skill set widely sought after in a variety of career paths.^[]听Being an analytical and critical 鈥渢hinker鈥� is the most common attribute of successful researchers, regardless of their field.听^[]听This ability allows you, whether you are a graduate student or a professional, to effectively navigate the different phases of the research process: From compiling and synthesizing information, to evaluating variable evidence, formulating questions and testing hypotheses, and interpreting and reflecting on your own findings in connection to other studies. Developing analytical and critical reasoning skills is important to reduce biased practices in professions that rely on complex decision making such as healthcare, where errors in judgement have severe consequences.听^[]听

While being critical is a way of utilizing your听subject knowledge听to solve problems and make decisions, this process compels you to seek and validate new information, thus expanding your knowledge in a听familiar or new subject听areas. Moreover, analytical and critical reasoning allows you to improve on other skills such as writing and presenting. For instance, by critically examining published evidence and pertinent facts, you will enhance your argumentative听writing skills听needed for drafting a research manuscript or a thesis.听^[]听

In everyday life, analytical and critical reasoning is essential for solving problems and making adequate decisions. In contrast to the passive 鈥渟ponge approach鈥� of merely absorbing information by relying on concentration and memory, analytical and critical reasoning provides you with an interactive approach to reach an independent decision or belief about the worth and validity of what you read, hear, or experience.听^[]听Therefore, through this thinking process, our decisions and beliefs are based on reflective judgement rather than associations or assumptions.听

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Cultivating Analytical & Critical Reasoning听

Graduate students are provided with many opportunities to acquire and practice their analytical and critical reasoning skills which, while enhancing the learning process, provide a lifelong tool that goes beyond graduate studies.听^[]听While it may come to you as second nature, analytical and critical reasoning can be further honed through practice, during and following graduate studies.听^[]听For instance, in a data-driven learning setting, repeated cycles of making, reflecting, and deciding on how to act vis-a-vis quantitative comparisons, have remarkably improved students鈥� critical thinking, as well as their learning outcomes (e.g., evaluating models, making appropriate changes to methods).^[]听

Be听a critical reader and writer听

Cultivating critical reading will enhance your听critical writing.听Critical reading听implies that readers should focus on the 鈥淲ays of Thinking鈥� about a topic, rather than exclusively gathering the information about it in the text.听^[]听For example, examine how arguments were presented and conclusions were reached. Adopting a question-asking attitude and reflecting on the answers will guide you through this process.听听

Depending on the nature of the questions, the answers could either be definite such as the distance between the moon and the earth in听physics, or听limited to intelligent guesses such as the reason behind a given human behaviour in psychology.听

Here are some examples of guiding questions: ^[]

• What are听the issues of the conclusions?
• What are the reasons?
• Which words or phrases are ambiguous?听
• What are the value conflicts听and assumptions?
• What are the descriptive assumptions?
• Are there any fallacies in the reasoning?
• How good is the evidence?

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Quick Guide听to听Becoming an Effective Analytical and Critical Thinker听

1. Consider what a critical thinker would expect, comment, or ask as you write a manuscript or prepare a presentation听

2. Be a curious learner by continuously seeking information and discussing concepts and novel discoveries with your peers or supervisor听^[]听

3. Avoid 鈥渁nalysis paralysis鈥� by focusing on both the details and the big picture, ensuring a rational decision-making process听^[]听

4. Analyze your own reasoning process and effectively communicate it as a way to persuade others听^[]听

5. Connect with ideas, people, and organizations beyond your comfort zone to expand your perspectives听听

6. Engage with challenging and dissenting views, and consider unconventional, alternative solutions听^[]听

7. Consider how your personal biases, values, views, and location in time and space听鈥捥齝ollectively known as positionality听鈥捥齣nfluence your reasoning and actions. Positionality is a challenge for objectivity in research, especially in qualitative studies听^[]听

8. Play brain training games (validated):听听,听..听

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Taking Action听听

Professional Development & Training听

• Program 鈥撎�: An intensive program designed for those in a strategic role. The program includes the use of analytic tools to generate insights and making decisions.听听
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• Workshop 鈥撎�McGill Balanced Thinking Skills: This workshop is designed for participants to acquire a well-balanced thinking style when solving problems, making decisions, communicating and leading others.听
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• Check听听for upcoming听workshops and programs by searching for events tagged with this category: Analytical and Critical Reasoning听
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Resources

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Need Help?

McGill Teaching and Learning Services听鈥撎齋KILLSETS听
Tel: 514-398-6648听
Email:听skillsets [at] mcgill.ca听听
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References