Identifying the theoretical perspective

Introduction

Although critical thinking can be used in any context, it is likely that you will apply it most when using written materials. The material presented in previous chapters is relevant to critical reading. This chapter focuses on applying critical thinking skills when reading for a specific purpose, such as writing a report or assignment. It looks at issues such as:

identifying theoretical perspectives; categorising information to assist with its selective use;
using a critical approach to note-making when reading.

Critical reading is different from other kinds of reading such as skimming or scanning text. The latter are useful strategies for locating where information is in a text and to develop a general feel for a subject. However, they usually result in a more superficial reading of the material.

Critical reading requires you to focus your attention much more closely on certain parts of a written text, holding other information in mind. As it involves analysis, reflection, evaluation and making judgements, it usually involves slower reading than that used for recreational reading or for gaining general background information. As you develop critical reading skills, these reading skills will become faster and more accurate.

 

Preparing for critical reading

It is not usually easy to make sense of any information taken out of context. When reading new material, some basic preparation can help you to:

see how the main argument fits together; better remember the overall argument;

better comprehend specific pieces of information;
recognise how reasons and evidence contribute to the main argument.

The following sections offer suggestions on actions you can take to orientate yourself to a text, in order to facilitate critical reading.

Books

Preliminary skim

First, skim through
thebooktogeta
feel for whatit
contains. Glancing
through as you flick
the pages a few
times, or scanning each page quickly in turn, can give you an initial impression of what the book is about and where relevant information may be located.

Scan the introduction

Check whether the introduction indicates the author's position or refers to the overall argument. Such information can direct you to the most relevant chapters and help you to make sense of detailed information presented in these.

Scan the final chapter

Look at any conclusions drawn at the end of the book. Check whether the final chapter sums up the argument, reasoning and evidence. If so, this is invaluable for keeping track of the line of reasoning when reading about the more detailed evidence in other chapters.

Scan beginnings and ends of chapters

Scan the introductions and final sections of relevant chapters: these are likely to orientate your thinking to the material in the chapter.

Articles

Browse the abstract to see if the article looks relevant.
If it does, read the abstract slowly, to identify the main argument.

If the article is about a research project, the research hypotheses sum up what the author is trying to prove. The results will tell you what they found. The discussion indicates what the author considers to be significant about the research and its findings.

Use the abstract to locate the most relevant information for you. Decide whether you need to know more about the methods used, the results, the discussion of the results, or the recommendations, depending on your purpose.

Find the argument

Once you have worked quickly to locate where the information is in general terms, apply the critical thinking methods covered in earlier chapters in order to identify the arguments:

Identify the author's position: what does the text want you to do, think, accept or believe? Look for sets of reasons that are used to support conclusions.

Once you have located the argument, you are likely to need to read more slowly and carefully, applying further critical thinking strategies.

 

Identifying the theoretical perspective