Exploring Decision-Making Skills in Science Education: A Systematic Review of Operational Definition and Instructional Trends
Abstract
Decision-making skills are widely recognized as essential for preparing students to navigate complex societal and scientific issues, yet how these skills are defined and taught in science education remains fragmented. This systematic review examined 20 studies published between 2010 and 2025 to analyze how decision-making is defined and what components are emphasized, how the criteria of decision is developed, and the kind of instruction supports its development. The PRISMA selection process identified eight key components of decision-making: identify problem, collect scientific data and evidence, consider multiple perspectives, generate options, develop criteria, assess pros and cons, select and justify decision, and evaluate decision. The review revealed that developing criteria, one component of decision-making, often involves developing values-based criteria. Learning practices were dominated by discussions, group work, and worksheets, with limited use of simulations, debates, or digital tools. These findings provide a framework for understanding and teaching decision-making skills in science education. Future research should validate this framework in classroom contexts and explore its adaptability across diverse educational environments.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Bell, R. L., & Lederman, N. G. (2003). Understandings of the Nature of Science and Decision Making on Science and Technology Based Issues. Science Education, 87(3), 352–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.10063
Ben-Horin, H., Kali, Y., & Tal, T. (2023). The Fifth Dimension in Socio-Scientific Reasoning: Promoting Decision-Making about Socio-Scientific Issues in a Community. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(12), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129708
Cetinkaya, E., & Saribas, D. (2023). Facilitating Middle School Students’ Reasoning About Vaccines. Science and Education, 32(2), 361–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-021-00318-8
Chaniotou, Z., Bardi, C., & Georgiou, M. (2025). Climate Change as A Socio-Scientific Issue in Science Education - A Systematic Review. Research and Practices in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 6, 73–85.
Dauer, J. M., Kirby, C. K., & Sorensen, A. E. (2025). Defining students ’ socioscientific issues classroom decision-making components and practice proficiencies. Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research, 7(12).
Dawson, V. M., & Venville, G. (2010). Teaching strategies for developing students’ argumentation skills about socioscientific issues in high school genetics. Research in Science Education, 40(2), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-008-9104-y
Dewi, C. A., & Yahdi, Y. (2025). Research Trends on Socio-Scientific Issues in Chemistry Learning: A Systematic Review. Jurnal Pendidikan MIPA, 26(1), 457–475. https://doi.org/10.23960/jpmipa.v26i1.pp457-475
Gough, D., Thomas, J., & Oliver, S. (2019). Clarifying differences between reviews within evidence ecosystems. Systematic Reviews, 8(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1089-2
Grace, M. (2009). Developing high quality decision-making discussions about biological conservation in a normal classroom setting. International Journal of Science Education, 31(4), 551–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690701744595
Gresch, H., Hasselhorn, M., & Bögeholz, S. (2013). Training in Decision-making Strategies: An approach to enhance students’ competence to deal with socio-scientific issues. International Journal of Science Education, 35(15), 2587–2607. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2011.617789
Gutierez, S. B. (2015). Integrating socio-scientific issues to enhance the bioethical decision-making skills of high school students. International Education Studies, 8(1), 142–151. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v8n1p142
Högström, P., Gericke, N., Wallin, J., & Bergman, E. (2025). Teaching Socioscientific Issues : A Systematic Review. In Science & Education (Vol. 34, Number 5). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-024-00542-y
Hsu, Y. S., & Lin, S. S. (2017). Prompting students to make socioscientific decisions: embedding metacognitive guidance in an e-learning environment. International Journal of Science Education, 39(7), 964–979. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2017.1312036
Jho, H. (2015). A Literature Review of Studies on Decision-Making in Socio-Scientific Issues. Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education, 35(5), 791–804.
Jho, H., Yoon, H. G., & Kim, M. (2014). The Relationship of Science Knowledge, Attitude and Decision Making on Socio-scientific Issues: The Case Study of Students’ Debates on a Nuclear Power Plant in Korea. Science and Education, 23(5), 1131–1151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-013-9652-z
Jimenez, P. C., Zwickle, A., & Dauer, J. M. (2024). Defining and describing students’ socioscientific issues tradeoffs practices. International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, 14(3), 277–293. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2023.2263608
Khishfe, R. (2012). Nature of Science and Decision-Making. International Journal of Science Education, 34(1), 67–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2011.559490
Kinslow, A. T., Sadler, T. D., & Nguyen, H. T. (2019). Socio-scientific reasoning and environmental literacy in a field-based ecology class. Environmental Education Research, 25(3), 388–410. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2018.1442418
Kortland, K. (1996). An STS case study about students’ decision making on the waste issue. Science Education, 80(6), 673–689.
Lee, H., Yoo, J., Choi, K., Kim, S. W., Krajcik, J., Herman, B. C., & Zeidler, D. L. (2013). Socioscientific Issues as a Vehicle for Promoting Character and Values for Global Citizens. International Journal of Science Education, 35(12), 2079–2113. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2012.749546
Lee, Y. C. (2007). Developing decision-making skills for socio-scientific issues. Journal of Biological Education, 41(4), 170–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2007.9656093
Lee, Y. C., & Grace, M. (2012). Students’ reasoning and decision making about a socioscientific issue: A cross-context comparison. Science Education, 96(5), 787–807. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21021
Lee, Y. C., Grace, M., Rietdijk, W., & Lui, Y. C. (2019). A cross-cultural, cross-age, and cross-gender study of Hong Kong and UK secondary students’ decision making about a biological conservation issue. International Journal of Science Education, 41(18), 2696–2715. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2019.1693662
Liu, S. Y., Lin, C. S., & Tsai, C. C. (2011). College students’ scientific epistemological views and thinking patterns in socioscientific decision making. Science Education, 95(3), 497–517. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20422
Luan, H., Li, T. L., & Lee, M. H. (2022). High School Students’ Environmental Education in Taiwan: Scientific Epistemic Views, Decision-Making Style, and Recycling Intention. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 20(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-020-10136-z
Mehl, C. E., Jin, H., & Llort, K. F. (2020). Student Decision Making in a Scenario-based Investigation of an Ecosystem. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/112278
Mettas, A. (2011). The development of decision-making skills. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 7(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75180
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. BMJ (Online), 339(7716), 332–336. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535
Nahum, T. L., Ben-Chaim, D., Azaiza, I., Herskovitz, O., & Zoller, U. (2010). Does stes-oriented science education promote 10th-grade students’ decision-making capability? International Journal of Science Education, 32(10), 1315–1336. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690903042533
OECD. (2022). Trends Shaping Education 2022. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/6ae8771a-en.
Papadouris, N. (2012). Optimization as a reasoning strategy for dealing with socioscientific decision-making situations. Science Education, 96(4), 600–630. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21016
Ratcliffe, M. (1997). Pupil decision-making about socio-scientific issues within the science curriculum. International Journal of Science Education, 19(2), 167–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069970190203
Rathouská, L. P., Janoušková, S., & Urválková, E. S. (2021). Assessment tool for scientific thinking and reasoning skills: an inspiration for university graduates in natural sciences. New Perspectives in Science Education - International Conference, 2021(10).
Sadler, T. D. (2004). Informal Reasoning Regarding Socioscientific Issues : A Critical Review of Research. 41(5), 513–536. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20009
Sadler, T. D., & Zeidler, D. L. (2005). Patterns of informal reasoning in the context of socioscientific decision making. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 42(1), 112–138. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20042
Sakamoto, M., Yamaguchi, E., Yamamoto, T., & Wakabayashi, K. (2021). An intervention study on students’ decision-making towards consensus building on socio-scientific issues. International Journal of Science Education, 43(12), 1965–1983. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1947541
Sakschewski, M., Eggert, S., Schneider, S., & Bögeholz, S. (2014). Students’ Socioscientific Reasoning and Decision-making on Energy-related Issues-Development of a measurement instrument. International Journal of Science Education, 36(14), 2291–2313. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2014.920550
Sutter, A. M. K., Dauer, J. M., & Forbes, C. T. (2018). Application of construal level and value-belief norm theories to undergraduate decision-making on a wildlife socio-scientific issue. International Journal of Science Education, 40(9), 1058–1075. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2018.1467064
Sutter, A. M. K., Dauer, J. M., Kreuziger, T., Schubert, J., & Forbes, C. T. (2019). Sixth grade students’ problematization of and decision-making about a wind energy socio-scientific issue. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 28(3), 242–256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2019.1613586
Wahono, B., Purmanna, A., Ramadhani, R., & Manalu, M. S. (2025). Strengthens the Student Collaboration and Decision-making Skills through Integrated STEM Education: A Research and Development Study. Science Education International, 36(1), 86–93. https://doi.org/10.33828/sei.v36.i1.9
Yang, F. Y. (2004). Exploring high school students’ use of theory and evidence in an everyday context: The role of scientific thinking in environmental science decision-making. International Journal of Science Education, 26(11), 1345–1364. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069042000205404
Zaikauskaite, L., Chen, X., & Tsivrikos, D. (2020). The effects of idealism and relativism on the moral judgement of social vs. environmental issues, and their relation to self-reported proenvironmental behaviours. PLoS ONE, 15(10 October), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239707
Zhang, W. X., & Hsu, Y. S. (2021). The interplay of students’ regulation learning and their collective decision-making performance in a SSI context. International Journal of Science Education, 43(11), 1746–1778. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1933250
Zoller, U. (1982). Decision-making in future science and technology curricula. European Journal of Science Education, 4(1), 11–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/0140528820040103
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53889/ijses.v6i2.873
Article Metrics
Abstract view : 7 timesPDF - 4 times
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Suci Indah Putri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
International Journal of STEM Education for Sustainability is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License