Start a conversation ↗

Description

Critical Thinking: Assessing Information, Spotting Bias and Building Arguments

Two days to examine information and arguments before acting on them or passing them on

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Business decisions often rest on figures circulated without a source, incomplete meeting notes and opinions repeated so often they pass for established fact. Yet passing on poorly verified information commits the person who relays it as much as the person who produced it.

This 14-hour programme trains participants to examine information before using it: identifying its source, separating facts from opinions, and spotting weak reasoning and the biases that shape interpretation. Participants then practise building a well-supported argument and testing it against the group.

Learning objectives

  • Assess the reliability of a piece of information and its source
  • Distinguish facts, opinions and inferences within a document
  • Identify weak reasoning within an argument
  • Recognise the biases that influence your own judgement
  • Build a structured, well-supported argument
  • Express reasoned disagreement in a meeting

What makes this programme different

Real business documents analysed line by line by the group
Work on your own biases before examining the reasoning of others
Structured argument confrontations on a shared case at the end of the programme

Programme

1Examining Information

Source, content and intent

  • Identifying where information originates and how it has been passed along
  • Questions to ask when faced with a figure without a reference
  • Distinguishing what is asserted from what is merely implied
  • Signs that a piece of information cannot be verified

2Separating Facts from Opinions

Reading what is actually written

  • Distinguishing fact, opinion and inference
  • Spotting shifts in meaning within a written report
  • The effect of word choice on interpretation
  • Restating a slanted statement in neutral terms

3Spotting Flaws and Your Own Biases

Reasoning and blind spots

  • Weak reasoning patterns frequently encountered in meetings
  • The common confusion between correlation and causation
  • Biases that shape how information is sought
  • Conditions that lead a group to adopt a false idea

4Building and Defending an Argument

Arguing without imposing

  • Building a structured, prioritised argument
  • Anticipating objections and preparing responses
  • Expressing substantive disagreement
  • Bringing a contradictory exchange to a close

Who is it for

Project managers, analysts, buyers, managers and anyone whose decisions rely on information provided by others.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.