Critical Reading

Critical Reading (CR) is the process of analyzing a scientific paper with the intent to determine the validity, reliability, rigor and contributions to the scientific scholarly conversation. CR is becoming an increasingly important skill for undergraduate students due to the increased publication of scientific literature, and the need to appraise the quality of that literature. CR skills have historically been an understudied topic, but there are documented methods for its instruction.  These instruction methods range from one day faculty created activities and student-led course topics, such as POGIL, to courses centered around scientific literature comprehension using the C.R.E.A.T.E approach. The research presented will focus on the benefits of CR as a skill for STEM students and educators, the adaptability and limitations of several methods of instruction of CR, as well as recommendations to implement CR instruction.