Identify a problem that exists within your chosen topic and apply each of the 8 Elements of Thought to your identified problem. Use the following guiding questions (8 Elements of Thought) to discuss your research topic from a critical thinking perspective.
8 Elements of Thought
- Purpose – What is your proposed research topic? Why did you choose this topics? What is your goal, objective, what are you trying to accomplish in completing research on this topic? Why is this study being performed?
- Key Questions – What questions does your proposed research topic hope to answer? What problem is being presented?
- Information – Information consists of facts, data, evidence, or or experiences used to “figure” things out. What information do you need to answer question? What information do I have and what information do you not have but need?
- Concepts – Concepts are ideas, theories, laws, principles, or hypotheses used in thinking to make sense of things. What concepts do you think will best address or correct the problem? What information is needed to better understand how to address the problem?
- Assumptions – Assumptions are beliefs that one often takes for granted. Assumptions should be clear and justified by evidence. What information, concepts or ideas am I taking for granted? Am I making assumptions about my topic that I shouldn’t? What assumption(s) is leading me to these ideas regarding my topic?
- Implications and Consequences – Implications are claims or truths that logically follow from other claims or truths. Implications following from thoughts. Consequences following from actions. What are the implications of the proposed solutions to your research problem? If your solution doesn’t work, what are the potential consequences? What are the potential consequences if your proposed solution does work?
- Point of View – Your ability to reason through something is determine by your point of view or context. Point of view is determined by what you are looking at and how you are choosing to see it. What is your point of view? What other points of view should be considered in addressing your research problem?
- Interpretation and Conclusion – What are the judgments that will allow you to know that your solution is successful? Link the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning. What are negative as well as positive implications. What additional consequences exist?
Sample Solution
