You have probably heard about critical thinking quite a bit, from lecturers, assignment briefs and even these library pages. Despite it being one of the most important elements to success at university, a single definition of what critical thinking is can be challenging to find.  

Chatfield (2020, p.10) suggests that it involves 'setting out to actively understand what is really going on by using reasoning, evaluating evidence and thinking carefully...'.

Others have defined it as 'the art of making clear, reasoned judgements based on interpreting, understanding, applying and synthesising evidence' (Burns and Sinfield, 2022, p.10). 

No matter which definition we examine, all include the idea that thinking critically requires you to:

• think clearly, carefully and objectively about a topic
• question and evaluate the information, ideas, and arguments you come across, as opposed to just accepting things at face value
• come to our own understanding and judgement about what is going on. 

Remember, it is not about finding fault or being negative about someone else's ideas or work. 

The short videos below explores what critical thinking is, in a little more detail.