I.M.P.A.C.T
A student checks their quiz score to see if their study method is working
Monitoring
Analyzing something to reach conclusions based off the evidence given
A psychologist studies how brain injuries affect memory
Biological
Exam scores are compared to another classroom to see who did better
Analyze the data
A researcher asks students which study strategies they believe work best
Self Reports
A student explains a theory out loud
Thinking Deeply
What are the 3 questions to ask yourself when critically thinking?
2. Is there strong evidence for the claim?
3. Do other believable sources agree about the claim?
A researcher analyses different problem solving methods between ages
Developmental
An explanation is created based on patterns found in studies
Formulate a Theory
A researcher investigates whether two variables tend to increase or decrease together
Correlational Method
A student changes their study method after they realize that it hasn't been effective
Improving
If an article lacks an identifiable author, what would a critical thinker do?
Take caution and evaluate credibility using the 3 steps
A clinician investigates the correlation between stress and getting sick
Mental and Physical Health
Findings are used to generate more questions for future studies
Share the results and conduct more research
A detailed investigation focuses on a small group affected by a rare condition
Case Study
A student creates a concept map to link multiple ideas together
Connecting
If the original source doesn't include information from other believable sources, what would a critical thinker do?
Search for it, using trustworthy methods like the KSU library
A study analyses how age affects attention, memory, and processing speed
Cognitive
A psychologist wants to determine whether a relationship between video game use and violent behavior reflects a cause-and-effect relationship rather than an assumption
Test with a research method
A researcher wants to describe the natural behavior of something as it occurs without attempting to explain the behavior
Descriptive (Observational)
A student strengthens their memory by repeatedly retrieving information under studying in a different location than usual
Practicing
An article cites evidence from a source instead of linking it directly, what are specific steps a critical thinker would take in analyzing this article?
Locate the original source, examine the evidence it presents, check whether that source cites reliable research, and verify that the article accurately summarizes and does not misrepresent the original findings.
A psychologist studies how traits change when with others
Social and Personality
A prediction is revised after earlier results failed to support it
Develop a Testable Hypothesis
A researcher investigates whether one variable can change another by controlling conditions
Experimental