Discuss one or more models of thinking and decision-making. (22)
Thinking and decision-making are higher-order cognitive processes. Thinking combines
and restructures existing knowledge to generate new knowledge, while decision-making
is a cognitive process that involves selecting one of the possible beliefs or actions, that
is, making a choice between some alternatives. Thinking and decision-making are
interrelated as thinking is a prerequisite of any act of decision-making. Decision-making
involves analysis because we select the best possible beliefs of actions and make a
choice between alternatives. On the other hand, thinking produces new information due
to the process of modifying information registered, stored and retrieved. Thinking and
decision-making involve normative and descriptive models. Normative models describe
the way thinking should be, it gives a standard against which real-life thinking and
decision-making may be compared. Furthermore, it defines what is wrong and right,
correct and incorrect, effective and ineffective, and also does not acknowledge the value
of short cuts. Meanwhile, descriptive models show what people actually do when they
think and make decisions. It focuses on accurate descriptions of real-life thinking
patterns and the main measure of effectiveness of such models is how closely the
model fits observed data from samples of participants. It has a deeper meaning
compared to normative models and describes real-life processes of human thinking and
decision-making.
The theory of reasoned action is a normative model that aims to explain the relationship
between attitudes and behaviour when making choices. It was proposed by Martin
Fishbein (1967) and suggested that an individual’s choice of a particular behaviour is
based on the expected outcomes of that behaviour. If we believe that a particular
behaviour will lead to a particular desired outcome, a predisposition known as
behavioural intention is created. The stronger the behavioural intention, the stronger the
effort we put into implementing the plan and hence the higher the probability that this
behaviour will actually be executed. Behavioural intention is determined by attitudes,
which are individual perceptions of the behaviour, and subjective norms, which are
perceived social pressure regarding a certain behaviour. However, the theory of
reasoned action does not take into account that certain conditions that enable the
performance of a behaviour are not available to individuals. Additionally, certain
intentions do not necessarily play a role in terms of connecting attitudes and behaviour.
Attitudes and behaviours may not always be linked by intentions, particularly when the
behaviour does not require much cognitive effort.
The theory of planned behaviour is a descriptive model proposed by Martin Fishbein
(1985), which was extended from the theory of reasoned action. It introduced the third
factor that influences behavioural intentions - perceived control. Perceived control was
added to account for situations in which the attitude is positive and the subjective norms
do not prevent you from performing the behaviour; however, you do not think you are
able to carry out the action.
Thinking and decision-making are higher-order cognitive processes. Thinking combines
and restructures existing knowledge to generate new knowledge, while decision-making
is a cognitive process that involves selecting one of the possible beliefs or actions, that
is, making a choice between some alternatives. Thinking and decision-making are
interrelated as thinking is a prerequisite of any act of decision-making. Decision-making
involves analysis because we select the best possible beliefs of actions and make a
choice between alternatives. On the other hand, thinking produces new information due
to the process of modifying information registered, stored and retrieved. Thinking and
decision-making involve normative and descriptive models. Normative models describe
the way thinking should be, it gives a standard against which real-life thinking and
decision-making may be compared. Furthermore, it defines what is wrong and right,
correct and incorrect, effective and ineffective, and also does not acknowledge the value
of short cuts. Meanwhile, descriptive models show what people actually do when they
think and make decisions. It focuses on accurate descriptions of real-life thinking
patterns and the main measure of effectiveness of such models is how closely the
model fits observed data from samples of participants. It has a deeper meaning
compared to normative models and describes real-life processes of human thinking and
decision-making.
The theory of reasoned action is a normative model that aims to explain the relationship
between attitudes and behaviour when making choices. It was proposed by Martin
Fishbein (1967) and suggested that an individual’s choice of a particular behaviour is
based on the expected outcomes of that behaviour. If we believe that a particular
behaviour will lead to a particular desired outcome, a predisposition known as
behavioural intention is created. The stronger the behavioural intention, the stronger the
effort we put into implementing the plan and hence the higher the probability that this
behaviour will actually be executed. Behavioural intention is determined by attitudes,
which are individual perceptions of the behaviour, and subjective norms, which are
perceived social pressure regarding a certain behaviour. However, the theory of
reasoned action does not take into account that certain conditions that enable the
performance of a behaviour are not available to individuals. Additionally, certain
intentions do not necessarily play a role in terms of connecting attitudes and behaviour.
Attitudes and behaviours may not always be linked by intentions, particularly when the
behaviour does not require much cognitive effort.
The theory of planned behaviour is a descriptive model proposed by Martin Fishbein
(1985), which was extended from the theory of reasoned action. It introduced the third
factor that influences behavioural intentions - perceived control. Perceived control was
added to account for situations in which the attitude is positive and the subjective norms
do not prevent you from performing the behaviour; however, you do not think you are
able to carry out the action.
