intuitionbased

Intuitionbased is an adjective describing decisions, judgments, or processes that rely primarily on intuition—an immediate, nonanalytical form of knowing about a situation. It contrasts with analytic or rule-based approaches that depend on deliberate reasoning, data collection, and formal models. In practice, intuitionbased judgments draw on tacit knowledge acquired through experience, rapid pattern recognition, and situational feel rather than step-by-step computation.

In cognitive science, intuition-based decision making is discussed within dual-process theories, where intuitive judgments arise from fast, automatic System 1 processes, while slower System 2 processes handle explicit analysis. The term is commonly used in studies of expert performance, clinical judgment, and creative problem solving.

Applications and evidence span medicine, emergency response, finance, sports, and design. Research suggests that expertise can improve the calibration of intuition under time pressure or when data are incomplete, but intuition can be biased by heuristics, framing effects, and overconfidence; in some domains analytical methods yield more reliable results.

Development and evaluation of intuitionbased ability often involve deliberate practice, feedback, and reflection to align tacit judgments with outcomes, along with strategies to recognize and mitigate biases. Critics warn that reliance on intuition can undermine accountability and lead to inconsistent decisions, especially outside well-practiced domains.

Related terms include intuition, tacit knowledge, heuristics, System 1 and System 2 thinking, and expert judgment.