Decision Making & Issue EvaluationTopic Summary
Knowledge Organiser: Geographical Decision-Making Skills
Part of Decision Making Skills · GCSE GCSE Geography revision
This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser: Geographical Decision-Making Skills within Decision Making Skills for GCSE Geography. Revise Decision Making Skills in Decision Making & Issue Evaluation for GCSE Geography with 15 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 15 of 15 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 15 of 15
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Knowledge Organiser: Geographical Decision-Making Skills
The 6-Stage Framework
- 1. Define the issue precisely
- 2. Identify all stakeholders (RAVES)
- 3. Gather evidence from resources
- 4. Evaluate options (decision matrix)
- 5. Consider values and trade-offs
- 6. Reach a justified decision (3C)
RAVES Stakeholder Analysis
- R — Role: who are they?
- A — Attitude: for/against/why?
- V — Values: what matters to them?
- E — Evidence: what data do they use?
- S — Significance: how much power?
3C Decision Structure
- Claim: state your decision first
- Criteria: most important factors + why
- Conclusion: acknowledge trade-offs + justify
- Link to broader frameworks (sustainability, national policy)
- Use specific data from named figures
Key Terms to Use
- Stakeholder — affected by / influences decision
- Trade-off — what you sacrifice for the chosen option
- Option appraisal — systematic comparison of options
- Weighted criteria — prioritising some factors over others
- Sustainable development — balancing present and future needs
- DECIDE SMART — the full 11-step checklist
Common Mistakes
- Stating a decision without justification: Always use the 3C structure — Claim your decision, explain the Criteria that matter most, then acknowledge the trade-offs in your Conclusion
- Ignoring stakeholder conflicts: Examiners expect you to show that different stakeholders have opposing values — present at least two contrasting perspectives before reaching your decision
- Using only one piece of evidence: A strong decision answer draws on multiple named figures or data points from the resources provided — never rely on a single statistic
- Treating all criteria as equally important: Real decisions involve weighted criteria — explicitly state which factors you prioritise and why (e.g. long-term sustainability over short-term cost)
- Failing to acknowledge trade-offs: Every decision involves sacrificing something — name what is lost by choosing your preferred option to show evaluative thinking