STUDY AND RESEARCH SKILLS BOOK REVIEW

Study and Research Skills Book Review

Critical thinking skills: developing effective analysis and argument

This book originates from an impressive collection of textbooks from publishers Palgrave. Title, critical thinking skills, developing effective analysis and argument accurately describes the contents of this book. The author has written for a wide audience to help the reader understand and develop skills in critical appraisal and construction of effective written arguments(Cottrell, 2005, p66).

Consisting of eleven chapters, the book includes practical exercises, TextBox information and reflective questions to help reinforce the information and help readers develop critical thinking skills. The structure of the book begins by describing the basic components of critical reasoning skills, then provides methods to identify effective and ineffective arguments, and finally leads to the process of writing and evaluation of effective arguments.

The author discusses the differences between the arguments and the arguments in detail, and provides techniques to help readers assess the consistency, order, disadvantages, and the logic of the arguments of writers. Throughout the book, check to help the reader to recognize the assumptions and implicit arguments such as the use of false assumptions, associations, stereotypes, and the value indicated and implied arguments. Cottrell describes methods for evaluating sources of evidence used in arguments by searching the literature to discover the authenticity and validity of the arguments of the writer. Further analysis of the evidence includes information on research basics such sampling, probability, sampling and statistical significance in the synthesis and control variables in research(Cottrell, 2005, p66).

Information described in this book is a valuable resource for nurses who are inexperienced with the understanding and interpretation of evidence-based health information. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the arguments in a clear, friendly style and format. Thus, this book is recommended for all nurses who want to develop an effective analytical thinking and skills.

The author is the opposite: that in order to become a professional nurse requires you to learn to think like a nurse. What makes you think about the nurse is different from a doctor, dentist or engineer? This is how we view the client and the type of problems we deal with in practice, when we participate in client care. To think as a nurse requires that we learn the content of care, ideas, concepts and theories of nursing and to develop intellectual abilities and skills that we become disciplined, independent, critical thinking.

The author discusses critical thinking is disciplined, intelligent process of skillful reasoning as a guide to belief or action (Paul, Ennis and Norris). In nursing, critical thinking for clinical decision-making is the ability to think in a systematic and logical with an openness to question and think about the reasoning process used to ensure the safe practice of nursing and quality of service (Heaslip). Critical thinking, when developed in the practice include compliance with standards in the field of intellectual and professionalism in the use of reasoning, the obligation to develop and maintain the intellectual traits of mind and habits of thought and competent ...