2001 Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 21-30
Decision making as a key concept in Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) is important. It remains to be introduced into FACS and the ability to make decisions needs to be fostered. The purpose of this paper was to obtain suggestions for the fostering of decision-making ability in FACS. The author tried to analyze Japanese and American textbooks from the following viewpoints; (1) contexts of decision making, (2) what the decision-making process is, (3) to what extent values are related to decision-making, (4) whether we can find descriptions about meta-judgements or not. Japanese and American textbooks include materials on decision-making for oneself and for one's family, and reasonable decision making as consumers. In American textbooks, the decision-making process is realistic and concrete, and there are descriptions about values. The concrete simulation of decision making is effective for learners. It is necessary that we develop a method for fostering decision-making ability in situations of uncertainty, which is suitable for Japanese students.
