Decision Making

Question 1

What framework do working rules provide?

Answer 1

‘How we do things around here’ guides investigator’s understanding of situations faced and material they need to gather

Question 2

What knowledge is appropriate and accountable decision making based on?

Answer 2

• legal framework
• characteristics of crime
• national policies and procedures

Question 3

What are the 7 steps of the process of reasoning to reach good decisions?

Answer 3

1. acknowledge situation or problem exists
   (What is the problem here or what will the problem be soon?)
2. identify , isolate and analyse problem clearly
   (What do I think the problem is? Can I state it clearly to define it to others ? What do I already know about it?
3. formulate clear objective
   (What are we aiming to achieve?)
4. gather all the data and information required to determine the ways in which the aim might be achieved
5. Draw up a list based on the information, of all the possible ways in which the aim might be achieved
6. Weigh and study each alternative individually
   (What are the possible results or consequences of each alternative? What is the most appropriate means for reaching the objective? What are the best alternatives?)
7. Prepare plan for putting selected course into action

Question 4

What are the 3 factors affecting decision making?

Answer 4

1. Individual biais
   (Decision making is unconsciously affected by individual’s perception of people, places, situations. Ie based on prejudice, diversity, criminal record)
2. Verification biais
   (Thinking channeled towards focusing on making decisions that support certain points of view, overlooking other lines of enquiry)
3. Availability error
   (Decisions based on material that is vivid , dramatic but does not necessarily reflect scope of material available on which to make correct decisions)

Question 5

What are working rules

Answer 5

‘On the job’ and from colleagues learning experience of conducting investigations