Introduction:
* Psychology is the scientific study of the behaviour of individuals and their mental processes
* Levels of analysis:
* Biological and physical bases
* Psychological factors
* Social and cultural context
Critical Thinking and Argument in psychology – Lecture 2
* Critical thinking is a skill that has wide application in many area of life but particularly when you are undertaking academic research. Critical thinking involves carefully examining and analysing evidence to assess its validity and worth. It means probing beneath what appears on the surface, weighing up alternative views and searching for other explanations before accepting an argument. It means being objective, open-minded and sceptical. Critical thinking is a frame of mind that is essential in bother researching and writing.
* Parts of an argument:
* Premises – statements offered as evidence or reasons why we should accept the conclusion
* Identify these by looking for indicator words such as: if, since, for, because etc. (premises usually follow these words)
* Conclusion – the statement we are trying to prove or support
* Identify these by looking for indicator words such as therefore, thus, hence, consequently etc. (conclusions usually follow these words)
* inductive argument structure
* premises offer support towards the conclusion but do not entail it
* objectivity:
* ignoring personal view or emotional reactions
* judging arguments or conclusions according to:
* their logic
* the evidence used to support them
* open mindedness
* consider all side of an argument even if you have a personal opinion on the topic
* never ignore possible explanations and interpretations
* prepare to accept evidence that conflict with your own personal experience
* scepticism
* never taking anything for granted
* looking for evidence
* questioning assumptions and conclusions
* questioning...