Measuring the quality of judgement and decision-making in nursing.
OBJECTIVE
This paper discusses measurement of the quality of judgement and decision-making in nursing research. It examines theoretical and research issues surrounding how to measure judgement accuracy as a component of evaluating decision-making in nursing practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Judgement accuracy is discussed with reference to different methods of measurement, including comparing judgements with independent criteria and inter-judge approaches. Existing research on how judgement accuracy has been measured in nursing practice is examined. Evaluation of decisions is then discussed, including consideration of the process of decision-making and evaluating decision outcomes. Finally, existing research on decision-making in nursing is assessed and the strengths and limitations of different types of measurement discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggests that researchers examining the quality of judgement and decision-making in nursing need to be aware of both the strengths and limitations of existing methods of measurement. We also suggest that researchers need to use a number of different methods, including normative approaches such as Bayes' Theorem and Subjective Expected Utility Theory.
Dowding
Dawn
D
Department of Health Sciences and the Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK. dawn.dowding@hyms.ac.uk
Thompson
Carl
C
D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000592:standards*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*