Decision-making style inventory: validation on the model for the brazilian context
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Abstract
This study aims to validate the General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS) within the Brazilian context. The GDMS, originally developed by Scott and Bruce (1995), measures five decision-making styles: rational, intuitive, dependent, procrastinating, and spontaneous. The research adopts a descriptive survey approach with a quantitative methodology. Data were collected from 1,183 participants at a Federal University using an online questionnaire. The instrument, consisting of 25 items adapted from Lehnhart et al. (2023), was analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate its reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and overall model fit. The results confirmed the five-factor structure of the GDMS in the Brazilian context, retaining 19 items in the final validated model. Adjustments to the original model improved fit indices and revealed key relationships between decision styles, such as a strong positive correlation between spontaneous and procrastinating styles and a significant negative association between rational and spontaneous styles. These findings highlight the multidimensional nature of decision-making and the interplay of cognitive and behavioral traits. The study concludes that the GDMS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing decision-making styles in Brazil. While the sample was limited to a single institution, the findings contribute to the global understanding of decision-making processes and provide a basis for future research. Further studies should expand the instrument’s application across diverse populations and explore its integration with additional psychological constructs.
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