7 Stages of Effective Decision Making John Pijanowski, PhD University of Arkansas Several elements of the following slide are drawn from the work of James Rest as found in Rest, J.R., Narvaez, D., Thoma, S.J., & Bebeau, M.J. (2000). A Neo-Kohlbergian Approach to Morality Research . Journal of Moral Education 29(4), 381-395.

Sensitivity Sensitivity involves imaginatively constructing possible scenarios (often from limited cues and partial information), knowing cause-consequence chains of events in the real world, and having empathy and role-taking skills. Both perception and interpretation

1. Perception The ability to recognize that a problem exist. Often, people are good at perceiving that there is a problem, but have difficulty accurately interpreting what that perception means.

2. Interpretation Identifying competing claims and drivers behind the claims Example: What does it mean when a student is not completing their homework

3. Judgment The ability, once a person is aware that various lines of action are possible, to effectively consider which line of action is more justified.

4. Prioritization Prioritization of Values What motivates you to choose from among the available judgments. Prioritizing and valuing of the components of best reasoning over and above any of the judgments of value preferences, social considerations, or normative preferences.

5. Implementation (Courage) Having the strength of your convictions, having courage, persisting, overcoming distractions and obstacles, having implementing skills, and having ego strength.

Reflection 6. Reflection on courage (is reflection on the action implemented –reflection in action); 7. Reflection on character (reflection on action). The two subcomponents here lead to further development of personal integrity. Reflection is important, because reflection has an impact on how people engage in later practice.

Metacognition To engage in the process of awareness of one’s own thinking, how one is thinking, and what one thinks about what they are thinking—and how to improve their thought processes – at each stage.

Process Strands There are mechanisms that connect each of the stages and inform learning and growth.

Affect as Information Having the “sense” inside; the intuition or feeling, that there is a problem or conflict; a feeling about their thoughts as being complete, adequate, or moral/right/caring; and then using that feeling as information for continuing along the decision making process or for modifying and/or improving the way they think within and about each component.

Expert Regression A theory about the decline in creative decision making strategies that comes with experience solving similar problems Replacing effective with efficient