33 Critical Analysis Examples
Critical analysis refers to the ability to examine something in detail in preparation to make an evaluation or judgment.
It will involve exploring underlying assumptions, theories, arguments, evidence, logic, biases, contextual factors, and so forth, that could help shed more light on the topic.
In essay writing, a critical analysis essay will involve using a range of analytical skills to explore a topic, such as:
- Evaluating sources
- Exploring strengths and weaknesses
- Exploring pros and cons
- Questioning and challenging ideas
- Comparing and contrasting ideas
If you’re writing an essay, you could also watch my guide on how to write a critical analysis essay below, and don’t forget to grab your worksheets and critical analysis essay plan to save yourself a ton of time:
Grab your Critical Analysis Worksheets and Essay Plan Here
Critical Analysis Examples
1. exploring strengths and weaknesses.
Perhaps the first and most straightforward method of critical analysis is to create a simple strengths-vs-weaknesses comparison.
Most things have both strengths and weaknesses – you could even do this for yourself! What are your strengths? Maybe you’re kind or good at sports or good with children. What are your weaknesses? Maybe you struggle with essay writing or concentration.
If you can analyze your own strengths and weaknesses, then you understand the concept. What might be the strengths and weaknesses of the idea you’re hoping to critically analyze?
Strengths and weaknesses could include:
- Does it seem highly ethical (strength) or could it be more ethical (weakness)?
- Is it clearly explained (strength) or complex and lacking logical structure (weakness)?
- Does it seem balanced (strength) or biased (weakness)?
You may consider using a SWOT analysis for this step. I’ve provided a SWOT analysis guide here .
2. Evaluating Sources
Evaluation of sources refers to looking at whether a source is reliable or unreliable.
This is a fundamental media literacy skill .
Steps involved in evaluating sources include asking questions like:
- Who is the author and are they trustworthy?
- Is this written by an expert?
- Is this sufficiently reviewed by an expert?
- Is this published in a trustworthy publication?
- Are the arguments sound or common sense?
For more on this topic, I’d recommend my detailed guide on digital literacy .
3. Identifying Similarities
Identifying similarities encompasses the act of drawing parallels between elements, concepts, or issues.
In critical analysis, it’s common to compare a given article, idea, or theory to another one. In this way, you can identify areas in which they are alike.
Determining similarities can be a challenge, but it’s an intellectual exercise that fosters a greater understanding of the aspects you’re studying. This step often calls for a careful reading and note-taking to highlight matching information, points of view, arguments or even suggested solutions.
Similarities might be found in:
- The key themes or topics discussed
- The theories or principles used
- The demographic the work is written for or about
- The solutions or recommendations proposed
Remember, the intention of identifying similarities is not to prove one right or wrong. Rather, it sets the foundation for understanding the larger context of your analysis, anchoring your arguments in a broader spectrum of ideas.
Your critical analysis strengthens when you can see the patterns and connections across different works or topics. It fosters a more comprehensive, insightful perspective. And importantly, it is a stepping stone in your analysis journey towards evaluating differences, which is equally imperative and insightful in any analysis.
4. Identifying Differences
Identifying differences involves pinpointing the unique aspects, viewpoints or solutions introduced by the text you’re analyzing. How does it stand out as different from other texts?
To do this, you’ll need to compare this text to another text.
Differences can be revealed in:
- The potential applications of each idea
- The time, context, or place in which the elements were conceived or implemented
- The available evidence each element uses to support its ideas
- The perspectives of authors
- The conclusions reached
Identifying differences helps to reveal the multiplicity of perspectives and approaches on a given topic. Doing so provides a more in-depth, nuanced understanding of the field or issue you’re exploring.
This deeper understanding can greatly enhance your overall critique of the text you’re looking at. As such, learning to identify both similarities and differences is an essential skill for effective critical analysis.
My favorite tool for identifying similarities and differences is a Venn Diagram:
To use a venn diagram, title each circle for two different texts. Then, place similarities in the overlapping area of the circles, while unique characteristics (differences) of each text in the non-overlapping parts.
6. Identifying Oversights
Identifying oversights entails pointing out what the author missed, overlooked, or neglected in their work.
Almost every written work, no matter the expertise or meticulousness of the author, contains oversights. These omissions can be absent-minded mistakes or gaps in the argument, stemming from a lack of knowledge, foresight, or attentiveness.
Such gaps can be found in:
- Missed opportunities to counter or address opposing views
- Failure to consider certain relevant aspects or perspectives
- Incomplete or insufficient data that leaves the argument weak
- Failing to address potential criticism or counter-arguments
By shining a light on these weaknesses, you increase the depth and breadth of your critical analysis. It helps you to estimate the full worth of the text, understand its limitations, and contextualize it within the broader landscape of related work. Ultimately, noticing these oversights helps to make your analysis more balanced and considerate of the full complexity of the topic at hand.
You may notice here that identifying oversights requires you to already have a broad understanding and knowledge of the topic in the first place – so, study up!
7. Fact Checking
Fact-checking refers to the process of meticulously verifying the truth and accuracy of the data, statements, or claims put forward in a text.
Fact-checking serves as the bulwark against misinformation, bias, and unsubstantiated claims. It demands thorough research, resourcefulness, and a keen eye for detail.
Fact-checking goes beyond surface-level assertions:
- Examining the validity of the data given
- Cross-referencing information with other reliable sources
- Scrutinizing references, citations, and sources utilized in the article
- Distinguishing between opinion and objectively verifiable truths
- Checking for outdated, biased, or unbalanced information
If you identify factual errors, it’s vital to highlight them when critically analyzing the text. But remember, you could also (after careful scrutiny) also highlight that the text appears to be factually correct – that, too, is critical analysis.
8. Exploring Counterexamples
Exploring counterexamples involves searching and presenting instances or cases which contradict the arguments or conclusions presented in a text.
Counterexamples are an effective way to challenge the generalizations, assumptions or conclusions made in an article or theory. They can reveal weaknesses or oversights in the logic or validity of the author’s perspective.
Considerations in counterexample analysis are:
- Identifying generalizations made in the text
- Seeking examples in academic literature or real-world instances that contradict these generalizations
- Assessing the impact of these counterexamples on the validity of the text’s argument or conclusion
Exploring counterexamples enriches your critical analysis by injecting an extra layer of scrutiny, and even doubt, in the text.
By presenting counterexamples, you not only test the resilience and validity of the text but also open up new avenues of discussion and investigation that can further your understanding of the topic.
See Also: Counterargument Examples
9. Assessing Methodologies
Assessing methodologies entails examining the techniques, tools, or procedures employed by the author to collect, analyze and present their information.
The accuracy and validity of a text’s conclusions often depend on the credibility and appropriateness of the methodologies used.
Aspects to inspect include:
- The appropriateness of the research method for the research question
- The adequacy of the sample size
- The validity and reliability of data collection instruments
- The application of statistical tests and evaluations
- The implementation of controls to prevent bias or mitigate its impact
One strategy you could implement here is to consider a range of other methodologies the author could have used. If the author conducted interviews, consider questioning why they didn’t use broad surveys that could have presented more quantitative findings. If they only interviewed people with one perspective, consider questioning why they didn’t interview a wider variety of people, etc.
See Also: A List of Research Methodologies
10. Exploring Alternative Explanations
Exploring alternative explanations refers to the practice of proposing differing or opposing ideas to those put forward in the text.
An underlying assumption in any analysis is that there may be multiple valid perspectives on a single topic. The text you’re analyzing might provide one perspective, but your job is to bring into the light other reasonable explanations or interpretations.
Cultivating alternative explanations often involves:
- Formulating hypotheses or theories that differ from those presented in the text
- Referring to other established ideas or models that offer a differing viewpoint
- Suggesting a new or unique angle to interpret the data or phenomenon discussed in the text
Searching for alternative explanations challenges the authority of a singular narrative or perspective, fostering an environment ripe for intellectual discourse and critical thinking . It nudges you to examine the topic from multiple angles, enhancing your understanding and appreciation of the complexity inherent in the field.
A Full List of Critical Analysis Skills
- Exploring Strengths and Weaknesses
- Evaluating Sources
- Identifying Similarities
- Identifying Differences
- Identifying Biases
- Hypothesis Testing
- Fact-Checking
- Exploring Counterexamples
- Assessing Methodologies
- Exploring Alternative Explanations
- Pointing Out Contradictions
- Challenging the Significance
- Cause-And-Effect Analysis
- Assessing Generalizability
- Highlighting Inconsistencies
- Reductio ad Absurdum
- Comparing to Expert Testimony
- Comparing to Precedent
- Reframing the Argument
- Pointing Out Fallacies
- Questioning the Ethics
- Clarifying Definitions
- Challenging Assumptions
- Exposing Oversimplifications
- Highlighting Missing Information
- Demonstrating Irrelevance
- Assessing Effectiveness
- Assessing Trustworthiness
- Recognizing Patterns
- Differentiating Facts from Opinions
- Analyzing Perspectives
- Prioritization
- Making Predictions
- Conducting a SWOT Analysis
- PESTLE Analysis
- Asking the Five Whys
- Correlating Data Points
- Finding Anomalies Or Outliers
- Comparing to Expert Literature
- Drawing Inferences
- Assessing Validity & Reliability
Analysis and Bloom’s Taxonomy
Benjamin Bloom placed analysis as the third-highest form of thinking on his ladder of cognitive skills called Bloom’s Taxonomy .
This taxonomy starts with the lowest levels of thinking – remembering and understanding. The further we go up the ladder, the more we reach higher-order thinking skills that demonstrate depth of understanding and knowledge, as outlined below:
Here’s a full outline of the taxonomy in a table format:
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
- Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! – I cannot even being to explain how hard it has been to find a simple but in-depth understanding of what ‘Critical Analysis’ is. I have looked at over 10 different pages and went down so many rabbit holes but this is brilliant! I only skimmed through the article but it was already promising, I then went back and read it more in-depth, it just all clicked into place. So thank you again!
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Provide an example or two to support your analysis and evaluation. Use quotes or specific details from the text, object, or event to support your claims. Analyze the example (s) using critical thinking skills and explain how they relate to your overall argument. VII. Conclusion.
Academic examples Example: Good critical thinking in an academic context. You're writing a research paper on recent innovations in diabetes treatments. You read an article that claims positive results for an at-home treatment that was recently developed. The results of the research are impressive, and the treatment seems to be groundbreaking.
33 Critical Analysis Examples. Critical analysis refers to the ability to examine something in detail in preparation to make an evaluation or judgment. It will involve exploring underlying assumptions, theories, arguments, evidence, logic, biases, contextual factors, and so forth, that could help shed more light on the topic.
A critical analysis is an argument about a particular piece of media. There are typically two parts: (1) identify and explain the argument the author is making, and (2), provide your own argument about that argument. ... An example of a summary and an evaluation of a research article. This extended example shows the different ways a student can ...
How important was the research question posed by the researchers? These questions were adapted from the following sources: Kuyper, B.J. (1991). Bringing up scientists in the art of critiquing research. Bioscience 41(4), 248-250. ... For example, stating that the sample size is insufficient is not a critical assessment. Describing why the sample ...
Example extracts from a critical review. In these two examples, the extracts refer to the same section of text. In each example, the section that refers to a source has been highlighted in bold. The note below the example then explains how the writer has used the source material.
Below are nine organizational and writing tips to help you craft the best possible critical analysis essay. 1. Read Thoroughly and Carefully. You will need to accurately represent an author's point of view and techniques. Be sure you truly understand them before you begin the writing process.
Critical participatory action research (CPAR) is a framework for engaging research with communities interested in documenting, challenging, and transforming conditions of social injustice. The preposition "with" matters enormously. It marks a dramatic shift in the design of research as usual, breaking from conventional approaches in which ...
In order to illustrate how a critical approach can be used in research endeavours, an example of this approach is given through a paper, entitled "Transformative Potentials of Critical Educational Inquiry," developed by a graduate student, who used this approach to examine the critical nature of an article published by Deborah Hicks.
Heidi M. Levitt, Zenobia Morrill, Kathleen M. Collins, and Javier L. Rizo. University of Massachusetts-Boston. This article articulates principles and practices that support methodological integrity in relation to critical qualitative research. We begin by describing 2 changes that have occurred in psychological methods over the last 15 years.
For example, in quantitative research a critical appraisal checklist assists a reviewer in assessing each study according to the same (pre-determined) criteria; that is, checklists help standardize the process, if not the outcome (they are navigational tools, not anchors, Booth, Citation 2007). Also, if the checklist has been through a rigorous ...
Critical appraisal is the assessment of research studies' worth to clinical practice. Critical appraisal—the heart of evidence-based practice—involves four phases: rapid critical appraisal, evaluation, synthesis, and recommendation. This article reviews each phase and provides examples, tips, and caveats to help evidence appraisers ...
Critical appraisal is the course of action for watchfully and systematically examining research to assess its reliability, value and relevance in order to direct professionals in their vital clinical decision making [ 1 ]. Critical appraisal is essential to: Combat information overload; Identify papers that are clinically relevant;
Written for students - I overview planning and writing a Lit review (from my book *Study Skills for International Postgraduates* (2nd Edition) Bloomsbury. February 2022. Martin Davies. [PLEASE USE ...
In a commonly cited example, teachers and schools often insist on standard English, implicitly signaling that other languages, ways of speaking, and ways of representing knowledge are less valid. ... Applying critical theory and critical pedagogy to research requires turning the analytic focus away from individuals and onto systems. It is often ...
Framed within the critical paradigm (Asghar 2013), this research explores the incorporation of critical pedagogy and critical design methodologies in undergraduate design education as a means of ...
critiquing the literature, critical analysis, reviewing the literature, evaluation and appraisal of the literature which are in essence the same thing (Bassett and Bassett, 2003). Terminology in research can be confusing for the novice research reader where a term like 'random' refers to an organized manner of selecting items or participants ...
A 'critical review', or 'critique', is a complete type of text (or genre), discussing one particular article or book in detail. In some instances, you may be asked to write a critique of two or three articles (e.g. a comparative critical review). In contrast, a 'literature review', which also needs to be 'critical', is a part of a larger type ...
Critical Appraisal: The I-ELCAP Study. In its October 26, 2006, issue, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) study, a large clinical research study examining annual computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer in asymptomatic persons. Though the authors concluded that the screening program could save ...
Purpose: In this article, we will outline the major contributions of critical theory, as a research paradigm, to the development and evolution of qualitative methodologies. In particular, we will discuss their application to nursing research. The historical and conceptual underpinnings of these critical methodologies will first be described to ...
Critical social research should not be confused with Critical Theory, the latter is an example of the former but critical social theory is much wider. Critical social research refers to research practices that are intrinsically critical. This means that knowledge is seen to be dynamic and developed through critique.
To write a good critical review, you will have to engage in the mental processes of analyzing (taking apart) the work-deciding what its major components are and determining how these parts (i.e., paragraphs, sections, or chapters) contribute to the work as a whole. Analyzing the work will help you focus on how and why the author makes certain ...
What is critical research example? It reinterprets the relationship between researcher and participants as one of collaboration, where participants define research questions that matter to them and where social action is the desired goal. Examples of critical research include feminist, radical educational, and participatory action research.
It is important that research is grounded in what you see or experience regarding the topic you have chosen and what is already known in the literature. Spend time researching articles, books, etc. that supports your thesis. ... Example 1: In my field developing a research question involves navigating the relationship between 1) what one sees ...
Drug Screening. Transitioning from HireRight to Critical Research has been a gamechanger. Great platform, timely, wonderful to work with. Critical Research is always up to any challenge, whether it is last minute changes or extensions for future employees to complete their tests. The tests are complete, accurate and thorough.
A classic example of experience-dependent plasticity is ocular dominance (OD) shift, in which the responsiveness of neurons in the visual cortex is profoundly altered following monocular deprivation (MD). It has been postulated that OD shifts also modify global neural networks, but such effects have never been demonstrated. Here, we use wide-field fluorescence optical imaging (WFOI) to ...
Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants. Exploring sugarcane's ...