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#REDIRECT [[Free Will]]
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==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] ''decidere'', [[literally]], to cut off, from ''de''- + ''caedere'' to cut
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]
==Definitions==
*1a : to make a final [[choice]] or [[judgment]] about <decide what to do>
:b : to select as a [[course]] of [[action]] —used with an infinitive <decided to go>
:c : to infer on the basis of [[evidence]] : conclude <they decided that he was right>
*2: to bring to a definitive end <one blow decided the fight>
*3: to induce to come to a [[choice]] <her pleas decided him to help>
==Description==
'''Decision''' making can be regarded as the [[mental]] processes (cognitive process) resulting in the selection of a [[course]] of [[action]] among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making [[process]] produces a final [[choice]]. The output can be an [[action]] or an [[opinion]] of choice.
Human performance in ''decision'' terms has been the subject of active research from several [[perspectives]]. From a [[psychological]] perspective, it is [[necessary]] to examine individual decisions in the [[context]] of a set of needs, preferences an individual has and [[values]] they seek. From a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive cognitive] perspective, the decision making process must be regarded as a continuous [[process]] integrated in the [[interaction]] with the [[environment]]. From a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normative normative] perspective, the [[analysis]] of individual decisions is concerned with the [[logic]] of decision making and [[rationality]] and the invariant choice it leads to.
Yet, at another level, it might be regarded as a [[problem solving]] activity which is terminated when a [[satisfactory]] solution is reached. Therefore, decision making is a [[reasoning]] or emotional process which can be rational or irrational, can be based on explicit [[assumptions]] or tacit assumptions.
One must keep in [[mind]] that most decisions are made [[unconsciously]]. Jim Nightingale, Author of Think Smart-Act Smart, states that "we simply decide without [[thinking]] much about the decision [[process]]." In a controlled environment, such as a classroom, instructors encourage [[students]] to weigh pros and cons before making a decision. However in the real world, most of our decisions are made unconsciously in our mind because frankly, it would take too much time to sit down and list the pros and cons of each decision we must make on a daily basis.
Logical decision making is an important part of all [[science]]-based professions, where specialists apply their [[knowledge]] in a given area to making informed decisions. For example, [[medical]] decision making often involves making a [[diagnosis]] and selecting an appropriate treatment. Some [[research]] using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalistic_decision_making naturalistic methods] shows, however, that in situations with higher time [[pressure]], higher stakes, or increased [[ambiguities]], experts use [[intuitive]] decision making rather than structured approaches, following a recognition primed decision approach to fit a set of indicators into the expert's experience and immediately arrive at a [[satisfactory]] [[course]] of action without weighing [[alternatives]]. Recent robust decision efforts have formally integrated [[uncertainty]] into the decision making [[process]]. However, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Analysis Decision Analysis], recognized and included uncertainties with a structured and rationally justifiable [[method]] of decision making since its conception in 1964.
A major part of decision making involves the [[analysis]] of a [[finite]] set of alternatives described in terms of some [[evaluative]] criteria. These criteria may be benefit or cost in nature. Then the [[problem]] might be to rank these alternatives in terms of how [[attractive]] they are to the decision maker(s) when all the criteria are considered [[simultaneously]]. Another [[goal]] might be to just find the best alternative or to determine the [[relative]] total [[priority]] of each alternative (for instance, if alternatives represent projects competing for funds) when all the criteria are considered simultaneously. Solving such problems is the [[focus]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-criteria_decision_making multi-criteria decision analysis] (MCDA) also known as multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). This area of decision making, although it is very old and has attracted the interest of many [[researchers]] and practitioners, is still highly debated as there are many MCDA / MCDM [[methods]] which may yield very different results when they are applied on exactly the same [[data]].[3] This leads to the formulation of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making_paradox decision making paradox].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making]
==See also==
*'''''[[Free will]]'''''
*'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_theory Decision Theory]'''''
[[Category: Psychology]]
[[Category: Statistics]]
