Critical thinking

An analysis of information

After verifying the credibility of information source, we can critically analyse information included in it. We have to concentrate at the substance of the information and read “between the lines”.

For non-critical receiver, the information is the source of what s/he considers to be the fact. S/he gets her/his knowledge by absorbing these “facts”. For critical receiver the gained information is just an image of certain package of facts, assumptions and opinions as they are understood by its author. Critical receiver does not differentiate only what is included in the information, but also what the information reflects, as each piece of information is a unique creation of a particular author.

Non-critical receiver reads a book on history to find the generally accepted interpretation of some event. Critical receiver reads the same book to find out how it interprets certain historical event and assesses how facts, assumptions and opinions were selected and why.

What does information tries to say?

When doing critical analysis we should ask following questions:

• How did author choose the information?
• Does s/he use examples and case studies?
• Does s/he use arguments?
• Does s/he try to appeal to sympathy?
• Does s/he try to create contrast to clarify her/his stand?

Finally we will conclude what the information means as the whole.

Critically thinking person uses four basic steps to analyse information:

• find out what is the information about (for example by its retelling, when we can realise what does it says in the original text)
• find out what is the aim of the author
• identify the tone used and persuasive elements including manipulation techniques (5 section)
• interpret information as a whole (analysis of an information in order to state what is its overall meaning).