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Critical Thinking

Defining Critical Thinking

AI Generated: Golden Compass

Figure 1: Image generated using Copilot from prompt: "Image of Compass".

Now that you know just how important critical thinking is, it becomes necessary to define the concept. The first thing to say is that critical thinking is a good thing. When you encounter the phrase ‘critical thinking’ for the first time, you might be tempted to associate it with negativity or scepticism—simply because people can use the word ‘critical’ so often in this way (McMillan, 2021, p.114; Cottrell, 2017, p. 2). We have seen, however, the positive benefits that critical thinking can have for your degree classification and for your success in the world of work. But what is it? Defining critical thinking is notoriously tricky, and there are many variant approaches to reaching a definition (Black, 2007, p. 2). This guide adopts the definition of Burns and Sinfield (2022) because it covers well the types of skills that you will have to learn throughout your degree and that you will have to use in your chosen sector of employment or area of enterprise: 

 

‘Critical thinking is the art of making clear, reasoned judgements based on interpreting, understanding, applying and synthesising evidence … [it] means actively engaging with and evaluating ideas, evidence and information gathered from observation, reading and experimentation’ (Burns and Sinfield, 2022, p. 92).  

 

This definition, then, introduces critical thinking as a challenge to you, the student/researcher, to explain why you feel the way you do about a topic based upon the evidence you have explored. It challenges you to use your judgement; to interpret evidence; and then to condense what you have learnt into your own ideas in a way that is free of bias, distortion, incompleteness, and uninformed opinion (Paul and Elder, 2014, p. 6). That is easier said than done, but this guide now provides you with some practical ways for you to enhance your critical thinking.

You will learn about five critical thinking skills: 

  1. Skill: Seeking Relevant Information 
  2. Skill: Conceptualisation and Contextualisation 
  3. Skill: Evaluating Information and Understanding Biases 
  4. Skill: Logical Reasoning 
  5. Skill: Synthesising Information 

References 

Black, B. (2007) ‘Critical thinking – a tangible construct?’, Research Matters, 3, pp. 1-4. 

Burns, T. and Sinfield, S. (2022) Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University. 5th edn. London: Sage. 

Copilot (2025) Image of compass [Digital Art], response to Steven Bembridge, 28 March 2025. 

Cottrell, S. (2017) Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection. 3rd edn. London: Palgrave. 

McMillan, K. (2021) The Study Skills Book. London: Pearson. 

Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2014) Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education. 

University of Derby (2025) Assessment Regulations for Undergraduate Programmes. Available at: https://www.derby.ac.uk/about/academic-regulations/assessment-regulations-for-undergraduate-programmes/ (Accessed: 4 March 2025).