decisional

Decisional is an adjective used to describe anything related to decisions or the process of deciding. It appears in numerous disciplines, including psychology, medicine, business, and law. The term is derived from the noun decision and the suffix -al, indicating a characteristic or attribution.

In psychology and cognitive science, decisional refers to the processes by which individuals evaluate options and reach a choice. Researchers speak of decisional processes, decisional conflict, and decisional bias to describe cognitive effort, uncertainty, and systematic tendencies that influence choices.

In medical and ethical contexts, decisional capacity or decisional autonomy refers to a patient’s ability to understand information, appreciate consequences, and communicate a choice. Clinicians assess decisional capacity to determine whether informed consent can be given. Shared decision making relies on patient decisional input and clinician guidance.

In business and information systems, decisional support or decisional models help organizations make strategic choices. Decisional criteria, such as risk, cost, and benefit, guide planning and evaluation. The term also describes formal or informal processes of decision-making within groups or teams.

Related terms include decision, decision-making, decision support, decisional capacity, and decisional bias.