Päätöstutkimus

Päätöstutkimus, also known as decision science or decision analysis, is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on understanding and improving the process of making decisions. It draws upon insights from psychology, economics, statistics, operations research, and management science to analyze how individuals and groups make choices, especially under conditions of uncertainty and risk. The core objective of päätöstutkimus is to develop frameworks, models, and tools that can assist decision-makers in identifying options, evaluating their potential consequences, and selecting the most advantageous course of action.

Key areas within päätöstutkimus include the study of cognitive biases that can affect judgment, the development of quantitative methods for decision-making such as decision trees and utility theory, and the application of these principles in various domains like business, public policy, and healthcare. Researchers in this field investigate both normative aspects, which explore how decisions *should* be made to be rational, and descriptive aspects, which examine how decisions are *actually* made in real-world situations. The ultimate aim is to enhance decision-making effectiveness, leading to better outcomes and reduced errors.