(This questionnaire is an adaptation of the General Decision Making Style questionnaire developed by Scott and Bruce, 1995)
DIRECTIONS
Rate each statement as a 1, 2, or 3:
1 = This statement is absolutely false.
2 = This statement could be true or false. It depends on the situation.
3 = This statement is absolutely true.
- Before I make a decision, I make sure that I have all the relevant facts.
- When making a decision, I use a “gut feel”.
- I often seek advice from people to when making important decisions.
- I’m uncomfortable with making decisions, I prefer to avoid them.
- I make decisions promptly, no unnecessary delays.
- I make decisions in a clam, considered and measured way.
- When making decisions, I rely on my instincts.
- I never take critical decisions without consulting with others first.
- I usually don’t take an important decision, unless I have no other choice.
- I don’t think too much about the decisions that I make.
- Making decisions requires considered thought.
- A decision doesn’t need to make sense – it just needs to feel right.
- When I have an important decision to make, I like having someone provide the direction.
- Important decisions make me uncomfortable so I try to put them off
- When I need to make an important decision, I just do what seems natural at the moment.
- I explore and consider all the options before making a decision.
- I rely on my inner feelings when making decisions.
- When I make a decision, I rely on other people’s advice.
- I usually make important decisions at the last minute.
- I often make impulsive decisions.
SCORING:
Within each box, write down the number (1, 2, or 3) that you assigned to each of the statements in the questionnaire. Then add those numbers up to get a total.
RESULTS:
Take a look at your total scores.
- If A is your highest score, your preference is for a systematic decision-making style.
- If B is your highest score, your preference is for an intuitive decision-making style.
- If C is your highest score, your preference is for a dependent decision-making style.
- If D is your highest score, your preference is for an avoidant decision-making style.
- If E is your highest score your preference is for a spontaneous decision-making style.
- If you have roughly even scores across all 5 categories, it suggests that you use more than one decision-making style.
EXPLANANTION
A – Systematic: If your dominant preference is systemetic style, then you prefer tomake decisions slowly, calmy carefully. You collect all the facts before you proceed. You carefully examine all of your options, often engageing ain a cost benefit style analysis to I take the best option available.
B – Intuitive: If your dominant preference is intuitive style, then you prefer tomake decisions relying on your feelings. You make decisions based on “gut feel” and your intuition. You do what feels right at the moment.
C – Dependent: If your dominant preference is dependent style, then you prefer tomake decisions with support and guidance from other people. When you need to make an important decision, you ask other people for advice and direction. You feel uncomfortable making decisions for which you are seen as solely responsible.
D – Avoidant: If your dominant preference is avoidant style, then as the name suggest you don’t like making important decisions. You are uncomfortable with the thought and challenge of making decision, so as a result you avoid them as much as possible. You only take important decisions when you have to, usually as a result of pressures such as time, or demands from ithers.
E – Spontaneous: f your dominant preference is spontaneous style, then you make important decisions very quickly and without any real concerns or issues. You don’t spend much time reflecting about the decisions you have taken. You tend to just take them and see what eventuates! As a result you tend to be somewhat impulsive, flipant or rash in the way you approach decision making.
One style isn’t better than another. They each have their strengths and weaknesses, and they each work well in different situations.
- For instance, the systematic approach would work well if you have a big decision to make and a lot of time to make it.
- In an emergency situation, it might be better to be intuitive or spontaneous.
- If you don’t know much about a certain decision that you need to make, it might be good to be dependent and rely on the opinions of others.
- And sometimes it might be best to avoid making a decision altogether.
It’s OK to favor one of these styles more than the others. But if you rely exclusively on one decision-making style, you could end up making some bad decisions. For instance, it’s fine to be spontaneous sometimes – but it’s not the best way to go about making a major life decision. And it’s fine to avoid decisions now and then, but you’re going to run into problems if you avoid them all. Skilled decision-makers are able to use more than one style. They’re able to be flexible, and use the style that best fits the situation.
Scott, S. G. & Bruce, R. A. (1995). Decision-making style: The development and assessment of a new measure. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55(5), 818–831.
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