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| About the authors | |
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| Introduction | |
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| What is 'critical thinking' and why is it important? | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Introduce and define critical thinking and say why it is important. | |
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| Give an example of critical thinking in action. | |
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| Introduce 'six questions to trigger critical thinking'. | |
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| Explore why critical thinking has become more important in recent years. | |
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| Explore how critical thinking can help you in your academic assignments and professional decision-making. | |
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| How you can think more critically about information that is readily available | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Identify what is readily available information. | |
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| Discuss how to judge the quality and usefulness of this information. | |
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| Show how you can begin to think critically about the information you find and how to use it. | |
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| Being more critical: how you can find the 'best available' evidence | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Explain why you need to dig a little deeper to find the �best available' evidence. | |
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| Explore the value of using specific databases to search for evidence, and examine how to plan and search for evidence using specific databases. | |
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| Discuss how to find the best available evidence. | |
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| Discuss what type of research you should look for and how you know when you have found it. | |
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| How you can demonstrate your critical thinking skills in your written work and presentations | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Discuss why it is important to incorporate critical flunking into your writing and presentations. | |
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| Discuss how you can recognize good critical writing and presentations. | |
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| Identify when you will need to incorporate critical thinking into your writing and presentations. | |
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| Explain how you can plan your written work and presentations effectively. | |
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| Discuss how you can present your critical thinking skills effectively in your writing and presentations. | |
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| How you can adopt critical thinking in your professional practice | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Discuss the context and complexity of critical thinking in professional practice. | |
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| Explore how you can think critically about routine, relying on your experience and learning from others. | |
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| Discuss how you can identify and use skills for critical thinking within your practice. | |
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| Examine how you can develop a more in-depth approach to critical thinking. | |
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| Enable you to identify whether your workplace/placement has a critical approach to learning and development and discuss how to influence it. | |
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| Shaping the future: what is the role of critical thinking in the development of health and social care services? | |
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| In this chapter we will: | |
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| Explore why critical thinking is important for developing a broader perspective in your personal, professional and academic life. | |
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| Discuss the changes influencing health and social care in the twenty-first century, and explore ways to respond to these as a critical thinker. | |
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| Describe what qualities and skills are needed to think critically from a broader perspective in relation to health and social care. | |
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| Discuss how you can broaden your horizons through networking with professionals and academics in different disciplines, professions and specialist fields. | |
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| Appendix: useful websites | |
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| Glossary | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |