The Scientific Method Today

Decision Making
Is Problem Solving

• A decision is basically a problem, so, the stages of decision making are the same as those for problem solving.
• In all stages of problem solving there are constant decisions to be made. Some are so important they become a sub-problem of the main problem.
• Today, the trend in business and industry is to push decision making further down in the organizational chart.
• A leaders job is not only making decisions and solving problems but also seeing that subordinates make correct decisions and solve problems.

Here is a rating scale for problem solvers, decision makers and others. You can make as many copies as you want. Larger size one is available from us.

Our society is becoming increasingly more complex, team-oriented and adversarial each day. A rating scale such as the one shown below may be of some use.

Here is my version of a scale that can be used by a person evaluating his own opinion or conclusion. The scale could also be used by a team leader, scientist, businessman, attorney, judge, juror, etc. to evaluate someone’s opinion, testimony, or conclusion hopefully reached by following the stages of the scientific method.

By multiplying the raters’ own degree of experience in a given subject with the score he/she assesses to an individual’s opinion, testimony, conclusion, etc., we can arrive at a total score helpful in determining reliability.

You can develop variations of the suggested way to use this scale (shown in reduced size here) or a similar one. Example: The numerical units could be interpreted to represent money, time, sales, profit or plans and more.

The objective of the scale is to bring method and criteria, hence obtaining reliable ratings.

RATING SCALE FOR:
Knowledge reliability	Decisions	Theories	Plans
Problem solutions	Testimonies	Criteria	Ideas, etc.
Rater’s name and title		Rater’s level of experience (circle) LOW   0   1   2   3   4   5   HIGH
WORST                         For Rating Subject:                         BEST Circle number you believe applicable: -10   -9   -8   -7   -6   -5   -4   -3   -2   -1   0   +1   +2   +3   +4   +5   +6   +7   +8   +9   +10 If you rated a 0 please circle reason: Not Sure       Don’t Know       Neutral       No Effect
Subject	Date	Score __________ x ________ = _________ Rater’s level  x of experience subject’s rating = overall score

Plus Scores: 1 to 16 = C (Average) 17 to 32 = B (Above Average) 33 to 50 = A (Excellent) 0 Scores: Not sure, Don't Know, Neutral, No Effect Minus Scores: Indicate degree of failure, unreliability, inaccuracy, disaster, etc.

Copyright © 2000, Norman W. Edmund - All Rights Reserved