In an age of misinformation, students must know how to distinguish fact from fiction. Thinking critically is a key competence, more than ever in these unprecedented and uncertain times. It enables source evaluation, argument construction, and reasoning.

Sage recognizes the importance of critical thinking skills not only in fighting bias and misinformation campaigns, but in day-to-day life: the classroom, the workplace, and beyond.

Below, you'll find a variety of resources created with the intent to bolster critical thinking.  

Critical Thinking Bootcamp: Skills, Tools, and Resources to Help Combat Misinformation

In these virtual Bootcamps, speakers share their best practices and outside-the-box initiatives to support students as they learn about and research critical social issues. Using the advice from the event’s panelists, moderator, and audience, we have also compiled comprehensive toolkits to help combat misinformation.

Watch the event recordings and view the toolkits via the links below.

Critical Thinking: A Roadmap to Building These Important Skills

This Sage white paper develops a roadmap for building two important critical thinking skills: self-regulation and strategic thinking. It provides teachers with strategies for facilitating the growth of these skills within students, including suggestions for online teaching and learning.

The whitepaper also identifies the unique role that social science instructors can play in the fostering of critical thinking skills.  

An Antidote to Fake News

In this webinar, Tom Chatfield, author of the Sage title Critical Thinking, and Mark Kingwell discuss misinformation in the age of technology.

COVID and Conspiracy Theories

This excerpt from the new Sage title Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19 dives into conspiracy theories about the pandemic and the work of social identity theorists.

Critical Thinking Toolkit

“With their vast resources and staff expertise in information literacy, libraries play an essential role in empowering the population to think critically” — The American Library Association

This toolkit from Sage and the American Library Association contains free graphics and messaging for libraries to raise awareness digitally of their efforts to promote critical thinking.  

Why does reasoning matter? How can you show you think critically? Head over to this page to learn what critical thinking actually is, how to hone it and how to demonstrate it in your work. You’ll also find:

• A chapter from Tom Chatfield's Critical Thinking will show you what makes a good argument, the difference between arguments, assertions, and conclusions, along with tips to help you study smart and improve your reasoning skills.

• Guidance from How to Think on how to think well, spot your biases, avoid fake news and address your own ignorance.

• An excerpt from Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates will help you read critically, evaluate the usefulness of your reading material, and spot convincing (and flawed) arguments.

How to Read and Write Critically by Alex Baratta

To succeed in any assessment, you need to demonstrate critical thinking – but what does it mean to be ‘critical’? This book takes a hands-on approach to helping you think, read and write critically. Packed with examples from different disciplines and subjects, it talks through dozens of written extracts so you can see what criticality actually looks like.

Check That Fact by Sarah Morris

Knowing how to check and challenge information is essential for academic study – and our everyday lives. This practical guide shows you how to be savvy about using sources and improve your information literacy.

Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates by Mike Wallace & Alison Wray 

Reading critically and writing using critical techniques are crucial skills for your academic work.

This chapter provides you with the concepts and foundation to build your skills beyond the undergraduate level and gain confidence in your ability to critically read and write.

Research on how to be analytical and critical  

These published articles will help support your assignments and dissertations.

Adapting to a Digital Age

What is misinformation? How can you use social media effectively? How do you avoid information overload?

Sage authors Tom Chatfield and Mark Carrigan provide easy to digest answers to help you to navigate the digital world.

Designing a Mixed-Methods Study: Critical Thinking and Technology-Enhanced Learning From the Students’ Perspective

Case studies are the perfect way to take all you've learned and see it in practice. Take a look at one of our case studies to learn about critical thinking in action.

Videos and Podcasts

• What Is Critical Thinking and Why Should I Care?

• Webinar: Can We Really Know Anything in an Era of Fake News?

• The Importance of Challenging Assumptions

• Social Science Bites Podcast: Tom Chatfield on Critical Thinking and Bias

• Critical Thinking video series exploring the what and the why

Games and Quizzes

• GAME TIME: Can you spot the fake news

• Fact or Fake: How easily are you fooled? 

• The Critical Thinking Quiz