Gain and improve academic skills - Theme
- 2343 reads
[TOC]
For us humans, there is an importance in critical thinking because it aids us in making good decisions. Often we do not realise how irrational our decisions can be, and this is where critical thinking comes in. Critical thinking basically means thinking about our thinking. We make use of logic and reason to determine whether or not a claim is true, if the reasoning behind it is sound and if we can draw a correlation or connection. It is not necessarily about coming up with claim as much as evaluating the correctness of claims that have been made and try to form a proper conclusion.
To achieve this, we evaluate our thinking on the basis of rationality. When we understand how critical thinking works, we can use this knowledge to be critical in multiple subjects and situations in our daily lives. It is, however, important to understand that criticising other people’s claims and ideas does not mean that we want to attack other people, only that we are trying to find the logic in them. Also, criticising other people in not always a case of critical thinking. People can criticise in the most illogical and unreasonable ways, without considering whether or not their claims are true or their reasoning sound.
When we come to a conclusion at the end of a reasoning, we call that a belief. Beliefs are prepositional and can be either true or false. Beliefs can be compared to a judgement or an opinion. When a belief is stated in a declarative way, that is when we start calling it a claim or statement. Claims are things that we can think critically about.
Within critical thinking, there are three important parts: claims, issues and arguments. These parts can be analysed once they have been determined in conversation or writing.
Claims are things that we write or declare, to bring across information. With claims we often deal with statements, opinions or
.....read more
Literature review A detailed overview of the significant literature available about your chosen topic, providing a discussion and critical evaluation, and using clear argument to contextualise and justify your research. (p. 4)
Peer review The process of evaluating an article by experts to ensure the article meets quality criteria before being accepted for publication. (p. 9)
Textbooks Written specifically for audiences such as students or professionals. Material usually presented in an ordered and relatively accessible form. Often draw on a wide range of sources including peer-reviewed academic journal articles. Useful, particularly as an introductory source to get an overview of your research topic and find out who are the recognised experts. (p. 10)
Peer-reviewed academic journal articles Provide detailed reports of research. Articles written by experts in the field and evaluated by other academics (peer reviewers) to assess quality and suitability. Pay rigorous attention to detail and verification of information. Usually contains extensive list of references. Before publication, have usually been revise in response to comments. This is the most useful type for your literature review. Not all academic journal articles are peer-reviewed. (p. 10)
Non-refereed academic journal articles Articles may provide detailed reports of research. Articles selected by an editor or editorial board with subject knowledge. Relevance and usefulness varies considerably. Beware of possible bias. (p. 10)
Professional and trade journal articles Articles written for members of professional or trade organisations, so related to their needs. Consist of a mix of news items and more detailed accounts of a practical nature. Articles rarely based on research, although some provide summaries of research. Can provide useful insights into practice, although may be biased. Need to be used with considerable caution. (p. 10)
Newspaper articles Articles written for members of public, most newspapers addressing a particular market segment. News presented is filtered dependent on events, priority being given to headline-grabbing stories that are likely to appeal to the readers. Good source of topical events and developments. May contain bias in reporting and coverage. (p. 10)
Conference proceedings Articles consist of selected papers presented at a conference, often published as a book or special edition of a journal. Usually peer-reviewed. Increasingly available online. Sometimes difficult to find. Very useful if the theme of the conference matches your research. (p. 10)
Reports Reports on specific topics written by academics and various organisations, including market research organisations and government departments. Beware of possible bias. May not have gone through same review process as peer-reviewed academic journal articles, but those from established organisations are often of high quality. Often difficult to access or expensive
.....read moreDo you need to write an academic paper? Do you have a lot to tell the world but are you not sure on how to go about doing so structured and well organized? This hero shows how you could structure your text. Enjoy!
The article will consist of roughly 40 paragraphs. Five of them will provide the introductory and concluding remarks. Five of them will establish a general, human background. Five of them will state the theory that informs the analysis. Five of them will state the method by which the data was gathered. The analysis (or 'results' section) will make roughly three overarching claims (that support the main thesis) in three five-paragraph sections. The implications of the research will be outlined in five paragraphs. These are ball-park figures, not hard and fast rules, but 'knowing' something for academic purposes means being able to articulate yourself in roughly these proportions.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of a good introduction. If your reader does not have a good sense of your argument by the end of the third paragraph (before reading the 600th word), there is something seriously wrong with your paper. Or, perhaps more tellingly, if you are unable to outline your argument straightforwardly and clearly in three paragraphs, you will be unable to write a good paper. When I talk about what a scholarly article is, I always use the opportunity to sketch 'the ideal introduction'. It consists of exactly three paragraphs and no more than six-hundred words.
The first paragraph tells us about the world we are living in. This should obviously be the world that your paper helps us to better understand. It's the world that needs to be understood in precisely the way you understand it. But in this paragraph we (your readers) don't want this understanding, we just want a recognizable description of the world we share with you. Talk to us like we only need to be reminded that this is where we live. It should be familiar to us and based on widely available sources. While you should avoid the letter of a statement like 'We live in a world of ...' or 'Ours is an age of ...', this is very much the spirit of the first paragraph. It's a time for commonplaces; it provides a shared place for you and your readers.
.....read moreSummaries per chapter with the 5th edition of Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide by Bowell
Summaries per chapter with the 1st edition of Writing Psychology Research Reports by Starreveld
In the first four chapters of this book, the statement "science is derived from facts" is critically analyzed. Throughout the book, this statement's meaning changes slightly. Facts are statements about the world that can be sensed. Facts are neither personal opinions nor speculative ideas. If the world is perceived accurately and without prejudice, the facts that are established are, therefore, a reliable and objective basis for science. Scientific knowledge is reliable and objective if the facts guide conclusive reasoning to laws and theories that make up the basis for scientific knowledge. Before the 17th century, science was primarily based on authorities such as the Bible and Aristotle. Due to people like Galileo, this idea changed in the 17th century. People started to see observation as the basis of science.
Empirists (such as Berkeley, Locke, and Hume) and positivists held the idea that we can see facts as indisputably correct through observation. It follows from this reasoning that knowledge derived from this is objective and reliable. However, it is doubtful that science is based on observable facts. The problem that arises following the statement that science can be deduced from the facts relates to:
Some believe that facts are at the basis of science because they have the following assumptions:
The listening skills can be divided into non-selective (actually impossible not to perform) and selective. The 'non'-selective skills include non-verbal behavior, careful following of the conversation and the use of moments of silence. Selective listening means asking questions, reproducing the information given in one's own words, stimulating precise answers and summarizing. Regulatory skills relate to opening of the conversation, formulation of goals, making agreements about goals, clarifying situation and concluding the conversation. These skills coincide with the phases of problem clarification, problem nuance and problem handling.
First of all, the counselor must make clear what the usual course of events is, so that the client knows what to expect. The counselor must explain what his way of working is. The caregiver cannot do this if the client is completely confused. However, if the client is not particularly confused, the counselor can explain how he works and can make some suggestions. If the client agrees with these proposals, then both can start using them. If the client does not agree with the proposals, a different way of working must be implemented. Because of the structure that the counselor introduces in the beginning, the client will also get more clarity. Some practical issues will also have to be discussed in the beginning; such as the costs and duration of the calls. If both parties know what they can expect, an initial contract can be made.
Being able to listen to someone properly is a profession in itself. One must show interest without interrupting too much. One has to listen carefully, but not lose sight of the role of caregiver. The caregiver must also keep his attention focused on his profession. In addition to listening, non-verbal behavior is another important aspect. This behavior has a lot of influence on communication between people. The facial expression is one of the most important forms of non-verbal behavior. For example, a smile can express interest and a sense of consent while a frown will express antipathy and disapproval. Different facial expressions have different meanings at different times. The rescuer can choose to manipulate his facial expression. He must be careful that he does not do this too much. As a result, he may lose his attention and the client may think that he is not being taken seriously. Eye contact also plays a very important role. Lack of eye contact by the health care professional could indicate that they are not involved. Excessive eye contact could lead to a feeling of discomfort. Finally, the body language plays a significant role. A relaxed body posture is the best posture. Gestures that encourage the client such as encouraging nods are also desirable.
A verbal way to pay attention is to follow what the client has to say. The counselor does not try to steer the client, but tries to stick to the client's storyline. In addition, the counselor tries to encourage the client, among other things by giving short verbal
.....read moreProfessional skills in pedagogy encompass the knowledge, abilities, and attitudes that educators and educational professionals need to effectively work with children, young people, and adults. These skills are essential for guiding learning processes, creating safe and stimulating learning environments, and ensuring the optimal development of individuals.
Professional skills in pedagogy are crucial for:
Pedagogical professionals with strong skills work in diverse settings, including:
Summary per chapter with the 1st edition of Thinking, Fast and Slow by Kahneman
For a sustainable and safe travel or emigration insurance you can check JoHo's Expatinsurances.org