Identification of Decision-Making Style [IDMS-30]

Description

The Identification of Decision-Making Style Questionnaire (IDMS-30) is a self-report instrument designed to explore the way individuals approach and make important decisions in their lives. The instrument is based on the premise that there is no single correct or incorrect way to make decisions, as each person may display different strategies and preferences.

The questionnaire includes 30 statements, to which participants indicate whether they agree or disagree, reflecting characteristics of their personal decision-making style.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the IDMS-30 is to identify the individual’s dominant decision-making tendency. The instrument distinguishes three main styles:

Rational Style: characterized by systematic information processing, evaluation of alternatives, and logical analysis before making a decision.

Intuitive Style: relies more heavily on instinct, immediate impressions, and emotional evaluation of a situation.

Dependent Style: characterized by a greater tendency to seek support, advice, or reassurance from others before making a decision.

Identifying the dominant style may contribute to greater self-awareness and a better understanding of personal decision-making strategies.

Data Analysis and Use

Responses are organized into the three decision-making categories, allowing comparison of the relative strength of each style.

The results may be used in research and counseling contexts to examine decision-making patterns and their relationships with personality characteristics, career choices, problem solving, and everyday adjustment.

Scoring

Each “YES” response is assigned 1 point. The 30 items are divided into three groups:

Rational Style: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28.

Intuitive Style: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29.

Dependent Style: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30.

The number of positive responses within each category produces the corresponding subscore. The category with the highest score represents the individual’s strongest decision-making tendency.

Research Utility

The IDMS-30 may be used in studies in psychology, counseling, education, and career guidance. It may also support research into the relationship between decision-making style and factors such as self-confidence, uncertainty, personality, and reliance on social support.

The results are best interpreted as an indication of a preferred decision-making style, rather than as an absolute or diagnostic classification of the individual.

References

Janis, I. L., & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment. Free Press.

Payne, J. W., Bettman, J. R., & Johnson, E. J. (1993). The adaptive decision maker. Cambridge University Press.

Scott, S. G., & Bruce, R. A. (1995). Decision-making style: The development and assessment of a new measure. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55(5), 818–831.