Critical Evaluation Toolkit

Definition

Being able to examine processes, systems, objects, artefacts, issues and ideas in terms of their component parts and to make informed judgements about their worth, as well as the value and relevance of information are essential learning and life skills. Like problem solving, the skills of analysis and critical evaluation are best learned in a discipline context, but can be transferred to other learning contexts.

Skills in analysis and critical evaluation enable the refinement of problems and issues into their component parts, so that their significance and inter-relationships can be examined before being synthesised back into a whole. Critical evaluation is about proving a point, interpreting information and resolving problems. The ability to make informed judgments or evaluations about the worth, validity and reliability of opinions, ideas and knowledge is crucial in this process.

"When we think critically, we are evaluating the outcomes of our thought processes."

Halpern, D.F. (1997). Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum: A Brief Edition of Thought and Knowledge . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erhlbaum & Associates, p. 4

Essential elements of critical evaluation identified by employers

In 2002, a commissioned project documented the changing nature of work and skills required by Australian enterprises to ensure long-term economic growth. Input was sought from small, medium and large enterprises. An employability skills framework was developed in which categories of skills were described. While there were no separate categories for analysis and critical evaluation, they were reflected across various categories. For example:

• Testing assumptions taking the context of data and circumstances into account;
• Predicting - weighing up risk, evaluating alternatives and applying evaluation criteria;
• Collecting, analysing and organising information;
• Evaluating and monitoring own performance;
• Coaching, mentoring and giving feedback; and
• Identifying opportunities not obvious to others.

Business Council of Australia and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (2002). Employability Skills for the Future. Canberra: AGPS. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 20 March, 2006
http://www.dest.gov.au/ty/publications/employability_skills/final_report.pdf

Academic excellence

At university, students are expected to be able to:

• Evaluate whether information and materials are appropriate for a particular purpose, and up-to-date;
• Evaluate whether the evidence or examples used in materials really proves the point that the author claims;
• Weigh up opinions, arguments or solutions against appropriate criteria;
• Think a line of reasoning through to its logical conclusion;
• Check for hidden bias or assumptions; and
• Check whether the evidence and argument provided really support the conclusions.

Adapted from: Critical/analytical thinking skills. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 23 October, 2006
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/html/studyskills/critical.htm