Critical Thinking: Resources / References

Here is a list of useful references that I highly recommend for science students wanting to learn
more about critical thinking and develop their critical thinking skills. Critical thinking will not just
improve your essays / exam answers, but may change the way you think forever!

Weston, A. ( 2000) A rulebook for arguments ( 3 rd edition) I ndianapolis / Cambridge.

Hackett Publishing.
A very basic and short (can be read in one or two sittings) introduction on how to make
cogent arguments. The concepts are explained very well and should not be too demanding
at all for the student. Gives a good introductory guide on making short arguments,
extended arguments, and how to compose and write an argumentative essay. Despite its thin
content its an excellent starting place for students.

Brow ne, M.N., & Keeley, S.M. ( 2007) Asking the right questions. A guide to critical thinking
( 8 th Edition) , New Jersey. Pearson Prentice Hall.
An excellent book for the beginner or intermediate. It has a very clear style and is
well suited to the psychology / science student. I have based many of my
documents on the language and layout used in this book so students should find
both sources mutually supportive. Watch out for the latest edition and make sure
you get that one. If you are wondering where to start start here!

Carroll, R.T. ( 2005) Becoming a critical thinker. A guide for the new millennium ( 2 nd Ed) .
Boston. Pearson Custom Publishing.
A comprehensive book, more one for the intermediate and advanced student rather
than the beginner. Covers many aspects like complex arguments and logic that are
not covered in Browne & Keeley. I recommend it highly but if you find it hard
going start with Browne & Keeley and then come back to this one. Together they
both cover all you need to know.

Meltzoff, J. ( 1998) Critical thinking about research: Psychology and related fields.
Washington DC. American Psychological Association
This is an excellent and useful resource for thinking critically about empirical as
well as theoretical issues. This book contains lots of example papers / practical
articles to illustrate the pitfalls in argumentation, method and reason. This is
definitely one for students needing to boost their methodological and statistical
reasoning. This should be a big help with laboratory reports and those final-year
projects.

Damer, E.T. ( 2005) Attacking faulty reasoning: A practical guide to fallacy-free arguments.
CA, USA. Thomson / Wadsw orth.
A useful intermediate level text covering many aspects of logic and fallacious
arguments. Has an excellent discussion of the many central principles of scientific
argumentation and provides a host of useful examples to help understand them and how
they become violated in arguments

Engel, M.S. ( 2000) With good reason: An introduction to informal fallacies ( 6 th Edition) Boston:
New York. Bedford / St Martins.
An excellent introduction to informal logic and fallacious reasoning. Many concepts are
given an in depth discussion and are provided with useful illustrations. Has a good list of
fallacies and how they occur in everyday / scientific thinking.

Shermer, M. ( 2002) Why people believe w eird things. New York. Henry Holt & Company.
A general book on why people believe weird things. It is very accessible and
entertaining. Does not contain much in terms of formal reasoning etc, but gives
plenty of real-world silliness and a psychological interpretation for why some
people find weird ideas convincing. Shermers style is very engaging.

Thouless., R.H. ( 1968) Straight and crooked thinking. London, Pan Books.
A classic of its day. Although many of the examples are now dated the book is
worth its weight in gold for the chapter on dishonest tricks in argument alone. It is
a short book and can be read in one or two sittings but really easy to read, will
make you laugh from time to time, and is regarded by some as an absolute classic.

Whyte, J. ( 2005) Crimes against logic. New York. McGraw -Hill.

A modern book very much in the style of Thouless (above) but with a contemporary
flavour. Easy to read, and full of humorous examples from politics and other areas
that are rife with bad thinking. Not so much one for the scientist but more one for
the general thinker. Very entertaining.

Miscellaneous / general sources

Carroll, R. T. (2003) The skeptics dictionary. A collection of strange beliefs, amusing deceptions and
dangerous delusions. New Jersey. John Wiley & Sons,
An accessible resource / reference book for thinking critically about the weird and
wonderful.