Models of Decision Making - Essay Example

1. In the activities conducted, almost all the responses I made for each question was what people would most likely choose or answer. Reflecting on my analysis of the "correct" answers versus my responses to each activity, I realized that what made the "correct" responses correct and rational was the fact that each response to the activity required not just a simple understanding of the mathematical principles surrounding each question, but also the utilization of logical reasoning, wherein numeric figures and values are related in the context of the situation itself-that is, the situation in which these numbers are given and applied.

From these activities, I learned that one not only has to know the basic operations mathematically, but also how these operations relate to each other under a specific situation. Enhancing one's skills in logical reasoning requires both knowledge about mathematics and its operations and the ability to relate these operations with each other.2. My responses to the questions in the activities were primarily based on my knowledge of basic mathematical operations and principles. My judgment of each situation/activity is based on the assumption that the answer for each activity would require only a knowledge of math, specifically, statistics.

However, from what the correct responses for each activity showed, it became evident that a deeper analysis is embedded in each response. Each response required a look into how, if an alternative, logical kind of reasoning is applied, a different answer emerges-an answer that is somewhat different from what was earlier generalized, based only on simple mathematical analyses.3. From each activity arise different principles that demonstrated how, in decision- making, detailed and methodical reasoning is imperative.

Take as an example the first activity shown, wherein at first analysis, most individuals would answer Option 1 rather than Option 2. However, upon a closer analysis of the question and the relationship between the given information in the problem, the response did make sense-that Option 2 is the sounder choice rather than Option 1. What this activity also shows is that in decision-making, decisions are not just decided upon based from what was seen 'on the surface,' wherein information is not thoroughly digested and analyzed into different perspectives or ways.

Sometimes, people also tend to decide based on what their instinct tells them, which prompts them to decide to choose Option 1, which is easier to achieve and does not require any complication or deeper analysis. 4. People usually make rational decisions when serious consequences will result from these decisions. Decision-making, as applied in all aspects of life, are most often decided upon rationally, although the level of logical reasoning applied varies, and the more serious consequences will be, the higher level of logical reasoning is applied in the problem or undertaking.

Irrational decisions are often made under circumstances wherein the individual chooses, wittingly or unwittingly, to commit on a resolution that is prompted without the proper levels of analysis needed to resolve the problem.5. Decisions, as I have explicated earlier, have underlying analysis, wherein the individual processes at different levels of reasoning. It is advisable to make decisions rationally, primarily to avoid the problem of 'second-guessing' the outcome of one's decision-that is, reducing the level of uncertainty in any situation that the individual faces everyday.