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Critical Thinking: Tools for Evaluating Research

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In the era of fake news, information overload, and pseudoscience, critical thinking is more important than ever. While critical thinking it is becoming increasingly necessary, it can be a difficult skill to develop. Critical Thinking: Tools for Evaluating Research by Peter Nardi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Pitzer College, is here to help. The book focuses on teaching people about common errors in thinking, methods to evaluate and interpret information, and how to apply them in everyday life. In seven chapters it covers numeracy (understanding and using numbers); sampling and generalizability; probability and coincidence; visual thinking (interpreting graphs and charts); correlation and causation; scientific thinking; and fact, opinion, and logical reasoning. 

Clear and concise, this book uses a variety of examples from academia, the government, the media, and others, to illustrate commons errors in thinking and methods to overcome them. While intended for students, this book is helpful for anyone looking to enhance their critical thinking skills.  It is currently available in the O’Quinn Law Library at B809.2.N37 2017. 
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