# scientific-critical-thinking

Checks methodology, statistics and bias in research papers using GRADE and Cochrane ROB. Useful for paper reviews and systematic reviews.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 644 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/scientific-critical-thinking
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/scientific-critical-thinking

## What it does

The skill works through a paper in layers. It starts with study design: does it fit the research question, and can it support the causal claims being made. Then it moves to validity — internal, external, construct and statistical — covering randomization, confounder control and blinding.

A separate pass targets bias. It looks for confirmation bias, HARKing, publication bias, selection and survivorship effects, p-hacking and outcome switching. Evidence quality gets scored against GRADE and Cochrane risk of bias. Bundled references include `references/scientific_method.md`, `references/experimental_design.md` and `references/common_biases.md`, plus `scripts/generate_schematic.py` for diagrams.

The skill can call `Read`, `Write`, `Edit` and `Bash`, so schematic generation runs inside the session. That part needs Python, since the script ships with the skill. If you only want a text critique of a paper, you can skip the diagram step entirely.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill scientific/scientific-critical-thinking
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill scientific-critical-thinking -a claude-code
```

3. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates scientific-critical-thinking
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/scientific-critical-thinking
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/scientific-critical-thinking/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/scientific-critical-thinking

## When to use it
- assess a paper's methodology before citing it
- spot confounders and bias in an observational study
- check whether the design supports causal claims
- score evidence quality with GRADE
- audit statistics and outcome switching in a contested publication

## Example prompts
- Review the methodology of this paper and flag weak points in the design
- Check this study for selection bias and p-hacking
- Run a Cochrane risk of bias assessment on this trial

## Similar
- [scientific-brainstorming](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/k-dense-ai-scientific-brainstorming.md) — skill · 2300 installs
- [scientific-schematics](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/scientific-schematics.md) — skill · 2200 installs
- [nature-reviewer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nature-reviewer.md) — skill · 13900 installs
- [literature-search-arxiv](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/literature-search-arxiv.md) — skill · 3400 installs
- [scientific-toolkit-skill](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/scientific-toolkit-skill.md) — skill · 816 installs
- [scientific-manuscript-review](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/scientific-manuscript-review.md) — skill · 479 installs

## Other versions with the same name
- [scientific-critical-thinking · k-dense-ai](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/k-dense-ai-scientific-critical-thinking.md) — 2400 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 205 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md