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What is Critical Analysis?

Can you distinguish between description, reflection, and critical analysis in professional practice?

Case Scenario: James

"James, 35, has been admitted to a mental health unit following concerns about his behaviour. He tells staff he doesn't need to be there and becomes agitated when asked about medication. His partner called the crisis team after he stayed awake for three nights 'working on an important project'. James insists he feels 'better than ever'."

📋 Task: Drag each statement below into the correct category box. Sort them into Description, Reflection, or Critical Analysis.

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📝 Statements to Sort

Description

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What you observed or were told — factual, neutral

Reflection

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Your thoughts, feelings, and self-awareness about your practice

Critical Analysis

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Interpretation using evidence and reasoning — the "so what?"

🎯 Learning Outcome

Understanding the difference between these three elements is essential for professional practice. Description tells us what happened. Reflection helps us understand our own biases and reactions. Critical Analysis is what makes our decision-making defensible — it shows we've weighed the evidence and considered multiple perspectives before acting.