Simple Introduction into Critical Thinking in Research

Guide on thought development and intellectual improvement: Part 1

The very fundamental of thinking in an intellectual and independent way is critical thinking. Unfortunately, not many people possess this trait in these times, but it is a necessity, especially in times when different ideologies fight each other daily. Propaganda and lies are prevalent in these times. This is why I present to you a comprehensive guide on thought development and intellectual thinking. In this part, we will start with talking about the very basis of critical thinking. Especially about critical thinking in research. We together explore how critical thinking works and how you can learn it. Tod

What is not critical thinking?

Some people think they are critical, but they are actually not critical at all. Critical thinking is not skepticism. Simply ignoring every opinion that doesn’t align with your views or excessive skepticism on any opinion you hear about is not critical thinking. So neither be positive nor negative; instead, think critically. Realism is critical. So neither be skeptical without reflection on the evidence nor be cynical. Always assuming everything is bad is a negative standpoint that assumes, instead of really addressing the issue.

But also, you should not just look for evidence that proves your opinion. Also look for opposing views, since both sides need to be addressed to make a fair standpoint on the issue. Don’t follow a dogma that is considered to be always right, giving everyone no chance to discuss. Only because it doesn’t align with your own views doesn’t make their opinion wrong. Neither should reason be emotional, like “I feel this is wrong.” Why is it wrong? Find it out directly.

Another thing you need to avoid is contrarianism; always be against something or someone. This is excessive nitpicking into often even strong arguments that just is not logical. Instead, consider the other person’s opinion and think about it before you address another counterargument that has no well-supported claims.

Critical Core Skills of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is not one skill; it’s several skills that come together and form a critical mind. Like I said, it’s more than just being skeptical of what you see. Indeed, a healthy dose of skepticism can be beneficial. So first off, don’t believe anything you hear or read directly, but question yourself whether this information is true or not. You don’t need to research everything you hear. It can depend on what you hear or who you hear it from.

Analytical Thinking

A critical mind is analytic. What does the term mean? It means you are able to gather information, you can interpret it, and you can evaluate it. This ability is one of the most important skills. You read about a certain topic and can analyze what exactly is important. Such analysis separates relevant information from irrelevant information. It will be very important while researching a certain topic, especially if it’s a research project.

Open-Mindedness

You always need to be open-minded. This implies that your thoughts must be impartial and objective. A lot of people that hear certain things that go against their belief system will just downright refuse to believe it. They don’t think about it but instead just say “No” to it. Don’t be like that; be open-minded and consider that your opinion could be wrong. This is what it means to be unbiased.

Creative thinking

Yes, even creative thinking can help us be more critical. It helps you see different patterns of information that do not connect to each other on a first visit. But with critical thinking, you can discover connections that are more hidden. This is very helpful, but it’s not most needed.

Problem-Solving

This, however, is a trait that helps interpret dates and create possible solutions for a certain issue. It’s using the date you just analyzed and interpreted and helps you create ideas to solve them. When assessing a certain problem, brainstorm about solutions and, through logic, answer if these are possible.

Decision-making

Next to the solutions, you also need to be able to decide. Determining what is optimal and what is suboptimal is crucial. It’s also crucial to understand what actions should be avoided. Having this ability is not only an important critical thinking skill; it is also important for your own life. You need to be able to analyze a situation, interpret it, compare alternatives, and then decide what to do next. This is the key point for positive decision-making in life and thinking.

Self-Evaluation

Most importantly, however, you need to analyze your own beliefs and thoughts. One’s mind and beliefs can be the biggest prison for critical thinking. If you simply want to believe a certain point because it aligns with your personal views, this will become harder here.

Regular training is necessary for all these traits. Try to use them in daily activities, like when you read or watch the news. Next, scrutinize the news and conduct independent research. Discussions with people will also help. Try to integrate all those traits slowly into your life until they become normal.

Critical Thinking Process

First, you need to pinpoint the issue. Clarify what the exact question or problem is. Ask, “What am I trying to solve or decide? When you answered the question, you got a logic goal that you can work towards too. This way you won’t lose the red string. Now write it down into smaller parts. Is the problem broad? Divide it into various sections that need to be solved. But be aware to avoid any assumptions.

Now you need to collect the information. How do you do this? Research academic papers, newspapers, and everything that could help you solve the issue. But also look for contrary viewpoints, not only things that align with your opinions. This will reduce the chance of being biased. Please identify the truth or determine the most effective solution to the issue/question. Make notes about this information; evaluate what is useful and what is not. Then organize them in a clear spreadsheet or mind map.

For each source, you need to be aware of the author. Who is behind the source? If you read an article from a conservative viewpoint, they are more likely to be biased in that direction. But if you read an article with a left viewpoint, they are more likely to be biased in the other direction. Certain sources will say different things, and not everything is the truth. Find out what their motives are. Do they really just want to inform people, or do they have a more ideologized motive?

Based on all your data, you now need to decide for yourself. What viewpoints are wrong, and what is right? Write it down and best grade the authenticity from 1 to 5. Often, research from scientists is considered more near-factual, but check out sources from other scientists as well. How is their opinion viewed by other researchers? Then you also need to find out the relevance for the question you asked before. Can you use it, or is it irrelevant?

Finally You need to self-evaluate your research. Are there any traps you could fall into? And in that case, I especially mean confirmation bias. Critique your own work, even if it’s difficult to do so. Now reflect on yourself. Did you perceive all sides? Or did you neglect certain viewpoints because they are not considered worthwhile for you? Finally, you can also ask a friend or a peer to review your work. A second opinion will always be helpful.

Now it’s time to finalize your work. It’s time to draw conclusions. Create hypotheses around the issue and then use your data to check if these work out. Remove hypotheses that have only weak evidence, but highlight the conclusions that have a robust base. Then finalize your work by either writing a full work on it or making a conclusion on your research. Ask yourself how this new knowledge will impact the issue and how it changed your views.

Conclusion

In today’s information‑saturated world, gathering data is only the first step toward true insight. You must cast a wide net—academic journals, reputable news outlets, expert interviews—and deliberately seek out perspectives that challenge your own. As you collect each piece of evidence, note who’s behind it, why they’re writing it, and how it stacks up against competing claims. Then grade each source on a 1–5 authenticity scale, flag what’s most relevant to your original question, and discard the rest.

Before you call your research “done,” turn the lens back on yourself: Did you fall into confirmation bias? Have you fairly represented every side? Enlist a trusted peer to critique your findings. Only once you’ve rigorously tested your hypotheses against solid data—and stripped away the weak arguments—are you ready to draw conclusions. This disciplined, self‑critical approach ensures your final recommendations rest on the firmest possible foundation.

What to Do

✔️ Cast a wide net – grab journal articles, news reports, expert blogs.
✔️ Record source details – note author, date, publication, and intent.
✔️ Hunt down contrary views – find the strongest arguments against your thesis.
✔️ Rate each 1–5 – judge authenticity and credibility.
✔️ Filter out off‑topic fluff – keep only what directly addresses your question.
✔️ Spot your own bias – notice any knee‑jerk “yes” or “no” reactions.
✔️ Get a buddy critique – invite a peer to poke holes in your notes.
✔️ Jot 2–4 hypotheses – outline possible answers and link supporting data.
✔️ Prune weak theories – discard any hypothesis with flimsy evidence.
✔️ Summarize conclusions & next steps – state your top finding and what comes next.

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If you plan work on research and learning, read my article about better memorizing here.

Now I want to hear from you!

Are you sometimes forget to think critical? Tell us what problems you still need to work on, to improve your critical thinking skill.