CRITICAL THINKING

Knowledge and Comprehension

TOPICS COVERED

• Define the topic or issue at hand

• Examine own beliefs
• Develop a thesis
• Acquisition of relevant information
• Primary data versus secondary data
• Qualitative research versus quantitative research
• Skill of summarizing, interpreting and differentiating
• Observation skills
DEFINE THE TOPIC OR ISSUE IN HAND

5 Wives and a Husband

WHY? WHAT? WHERE? WHO? WHEN?

HOW?
 EXAMINE OWN BELIEFS

• Religions
• Politics
• Social Values
• Gender
• Class differences
• Money
• Relationships
• Weight
• Food
 DEVELOP A THESIS

• A Thesis is never a Question

• Its never a list
• Should never be vague, combative and confrontational
• It has an definable, arguable claim
• It should be clear and specific
 PRIMARY DATA VS SECONDARY DATA

BASIS FOR COMPARISON PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY DATA

Meaning Primary data refers to the first hand data Secondary data means data collected by
gathered by the researcher himself. someone else earlier.

Data Real time data Past data

Process Very involved Quick and easy
Source Surveys, observations, experiments, Government publications, websites, books,
questionnaire, personal interview, etc. journal articles, internal records etc.

Cost effectiveness Expensive Economical

Collection time Long Short
Specific Always specific to the researcher's needs. May or may not be specific to the
researcher's need.
Available in Crude form Refined form
Accuracy and Reliability More Relatively less
 QUALITATTIVE VS QUANTITATIVE

BASIS FOR
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
COMPARISON
Meaning Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that develops Quantitative research is a research method that is used to
understanding on human and social sciences, to find the generate numerical data and hard facts, by employing
way people think and feel. statistical, logical and mathematical technique.
Nature Holistic Particularistic
Approach Subjective Objective
Research type Exploratory Conclusive
Reasoning Inductive Deductive
Sampling Purposive Random
Data Verbal Measurable
Inquiry Process-oriented Result-oriented
Hypothesis Generated Tested
Elements of analysis Words, pictures and objects Numerical data
Objective To explore and discover ideas used in the ongoing To examine cause and effect relationship between variables.
processes.
Methods Non-structured techniques like In-depth interviews, group Structured techniques such as surveys, questionnaires and
discussions etc. observations.
Result Develops initial understanding Recommends final course of action
SUMMARIZING, INTERPRETING AND DIFFERENTIATING

WHAT WHY HOW

OBSERVATION
OBSERVATION