---
title: "Scientific Critical Thinking"
type: skill
id: "k-dense-scientific/research-methods/scientific-critical-thinking"
category: "Research"
publisher: "K-Dense"
license: "MIT"
source: "https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/claude-scientific-skills/tree/a25cf9e"
canonical: "https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/scientific-critical-thinking"
open_in_pho: "https://pho.chat/customize?item=k-dense-scientific%2Fresearch-methods%2Fscientific-critical-thinking&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library"
---

# Scientific Critical Thinking

Evaluates scientific claims and evidence quality. Applies to experimental design validity, biases and confounders, statistical interpretation, evidence grading frameworks (GRADE, Cochrane Risk of Bias), and teaching critical analysis. Supports evidence appraisal and identifying flaws; formal peer review writing belongs to peer-review.

Source: K-Dense (MIT), copied at a pinned commit. Free to use. Part of the Phở Skills library (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills).
Skill set: Research methods (https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods.md).

## What it covers
- Overview
- When to Use This Skill
- Appraisal Workflow
- Visual Aids (Optional)
- Core Capabilities
- Application Guidelines
  - General Approach
  - Apply risk-of-bias tools to the right unit
  - When Providing Critique
  - When Uncertain
- Reference Materials
- Remember
- Citing Scientific Agent Skills

## Other skills in this set
- [Research Grant Writing](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/research-grants.md): Supports research proposal preparation and review for NSF, NIH, DOE, DARPA, and Taiwan NSTC, including opportunity-specific requirements, aims, review criteria, budgets, broader impacts, forms, and…
- [Markdown and Mermaid Writing](https://labs.pho.chat/en/skills/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/markdown-mermaid-writing.md): Writes scientific Markdown documentation and Mermaid diagrams for workflows, relationships, timelines, and schemas. Provides syntax references, document templates, accessibility guidance, and…

## Use it
- In Phở: open https://pho.chat/customize?item=k-dense-scientific%2Fresearch-methods%2Fscientific-critical-thinking&utm_source=labs&utm_medium=skill-page&utm_campaign=skills-library and press Try, or add it so Phở loads it whenever a request matches. Phở works with your own API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others).
- Full instructions (original SKILL.md, unchanged): https://labs.pho.chat/skills/raw/k-dense-scientific/research-methods/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md
- Original files: https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/claude-scientific-skills/tree/a25cf9e (MIT).
- Full machine-readable index: https://labs.pho.chat/skills.json