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  • Critical Thinking: Dr. Katherine Sauer Global Economic Issues ECON 241

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    This document discusses critical thinking skills, distinguishing between positive and normative claims. Positive claims state what is, was, or will be and can be verified as true or false, while normative claims express value judgments that cannot be verified. To think critically about a claim, one should determine if it is positive or normative. For positive claims, one should examine the evidence used to support it and consider alternative interpretations. For normative claims, one should evaluate if it is based on supported positive claims. Critical thinking also involves identifying relevant information, viewpoints, assumptions, and implications to reach a clear conclusion.

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    This document discusses critical thinking skills, distinguishing between positive and normative claims. Positive claims state what is, was, or will be and can be verified as true or false, while normative claims express value judgments that cannot be verified. To think critically about a claim, one should determine if it is positive or normative. For positive claims, one should examine the evidence used to support it and consider alternative interpretations. For normative claims, one should evaluate if it is based on supported positive claims. Critical thinking also involves identifying relevant information, viewpoints, assumptions, and implications to reach a clear conclusion.

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    42 views5 pages

    Critical Thinking: Dr. Katherine Sauer Global Economic Issues ECON 241

    Uploaded by

    Katherine Sauer
    This document discusses critical thinking skills, distinguishing between positive and normative claims. Positive claims state what is, was, or will be and can be verified as true or false, while normative claims express value judgments that cannot be verified. To think critically about a claim, one should determine if it is positive or normative. For positive claims, one should examine the evidence used to support it and consider alternative interpretations. For normative claims, one should evaluate if it is based on supported positive claims. Critical thinking also involves identifying relevant information, viewpoints, assumptions, and implications to reach a clear conclusion.

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    Critical Thinking

    Dr. Katherine Sauer


    Global Economic Issues
    ECON 241
    A. Positive vs Normative Statements

    A positive statement is a claim about what is, was, or will be.


    - It is objective (no value judgment/approval/disapproval).
    - It can be verified.
    - It can be false.
    - It can be a prediction.

    A normative statement is a claim expressing a value judgment.


    - It is subjective (opinion).
    - It can not be verified.
    Examples:

    - US GDP in 2006 was about $12 trillion.


    - US GDP per capita is about $1,000.
    - Worldwide, income is distributed unequally.
    - Worldwide, income is distributed unfairly.
    - Illegal immigrants are a drain on a country’s social services.
    - The number of migrant workers in the US is too high.
    - If a country with a fixed exchange rate is facing a BoP crisis
    it should borrow currency from the IMF.
    - If a country has an undervalued currency for a long time and
    expands the domestic money supply, inflation is likely to
    occur.
    - When domestic firms are hurt by foreign competition,
    placing
    tariffs on imports is a good idea.
    - When domestic firms are hurt by foreign competition,
    B. How to be critical of a claim:

    Ask yourself
    - Is the claim positive or normative?

    If it is positive:
    - What evidence is there to support the claim?
    - How reliable is the evidence?
    - Are there other ways of interpreting the
    evidence?

    If it is normative:
    - Is the normative claim based on any
    positive claims?
    - Are those positive claims supported by
    reliable evidence?
    C. Critical Thinking Skills

    - identifies relevant information

    - incorporates relevant viewpoints/ stakeholders

    - identifies relevant assumptions

    - considers implications / consequences for alternative courses of


    action

    - conclusion is clear and generally follows from prior analysis

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