ABSTRACT
This chapter starts from the premise that skills in evaluation can be developed through a better understanding of what critical thinking involves, and by practising those skills. Learning to think in evaluative ways means students have to use critical analysis and cognitive processes such as selection and judgement (Cottrell 2017). It is important that teachers recognise the potential barriers to evaluation and actively teach the critical thinking skills that allow psychology students to develop an argument that explores the strengths and weaknesses of research and ideas, often using scientific methodology or debates in psychology. Students need to accept that learning to think critically and evaluating research will be challenging and requires effort. On the other hand, the rewards for students and teachers lie in improved abilities in making judgements about psychological research. It is important teachers see the relevance of spending the time developing their students’ ability to find out where the best evidence lies for evaluating psychological research and methodology.
