A Dashboard of Decision Theories

Decision Theories Dashboard

Decision Theories Dashboard

Evaluation Criteria Overview

1. Psychological Plausibility

How well the theory reflects actual human mind functioning in decision processes?

  • 1 - Based on perfectly rational agents or idealized mechanisms without cognitive basis
  • 2 - Accounts for some cognitive limits but lacks emotions, context or real dynamics
  • 3 - Recognizes cognitive constraints and emotions but in non-systematic way
  • 4 - Structurally integrates cognitive and affective constraints
  • 5 - Supported by neuroscientific evidence and experimental data

2. Explanatory Power

Theory's ability to explain real phenomena and decision paradoxes

  • 1 - Explains only standard rational decisions
  • 2 - Recognizes anomalies but doesn't integrate them
  • 3 - Explains known biases with ad-hoc tools
  • 4 - Provides unified explanations for multiple biases
  • 5 - Predictively explains previously unknown anomalies

3. Predictive Accuracy

Model's ability to predict decisions in real/simulated environments

  • 1 - Unreliable even in ideal conditions
  • 2 - Works only in artificial scenarios
  • 3 - Moderate accuracy in structured environments
  • 4 - Successfully predicts real choices in multiple domains
  • 5 - Generalizes to new scenarios, outperforms alternatives

4. Operational Applicability

Practical usability in real-world domains (policy, tech, finance)

  • 1 - Purely theoretical/academic
  • 2 - Applicable only through arbitrary interpretations
  • 3 - Implemented in computational models
  • 4 - Basis for operational tools in at least one domain
  • 5 - Widely used across multiple sectors

5. Socio-Cultural Validity

Support for inclusive, culturally contextualized decisions

  • 1 - Ignores ethical/cultural dimensions
  • 2 - Recognizes social aspects but doesn't integrate
  • 3 - Partially accounts for cultural variables
  • 4 - Allows social context modeling
  • 5 - Actively improves decision fairness and sustainability

6. Formal Robustness

Logical coherence and mathematical tractability

  • 1 - Informal/vague structure
  • 2 - Logically coherent but not formalizable
  • 3 - Formalizable with exceptions
  • 4 - Mathematically rigorous
  • 5 - Elegant and computationally compatible