HEF607
Participant Guide
Option A or Option B:
The Steps of the Decision Making
Process
Michelle Krehbiel, Extension Youth Development Specialist
Goal:
You will be able to apply the decision making process to personal or family situations.
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Identify the steps of the decision making process
• Identify factors that influence decision making
• Apply the decision making process when making decisions. Introduction:
We make hundreds of decisions every day. These decisions can be as routine as when to get out of bed, what to eat for lunch, or when to exercise, or decisions can be as significant as what career to pursue or where to live. Whether making a decision about something fairly routine or a major life event, making good decisions takes time, practice, and conscious thought.
Definition of Decision Making
Decision making is the process of choosing what to do by considering the possible consequences of different choices (Brockman & Russell, 2009; Walker, 2001a).
The decision making process is a tool that can help you or your family members reach goals, gain greater control
over your life, and help you be more satisfied with the quality of your life (Walker, 2001b).
Factors Influencing Decision Making
Making decisions can be complex because of the large amount of factors that influence the decision making process (Brockman & Russell, 2009). Some factors are specific to you as an individual such as your values, goals, and priorities. Other factors are external such as cultural and community values, religion, media influences, peers, friends, and family. When making decisions it is important to understand how these influences impact the process.
Goal setting is important to the decision making process because it can help determine options and set a course of action. Specifically, goals are the end result that an individual, family,