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Decision theory
Branch of applied probability theory / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Decision theory (or the theory of choice) is a branch of applied probability theory and analytic philosophy concerned with the theory of making decisions based on assigning probabilities to various factors and assigning numerical consequences to the outcome.[1]
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There are three branches of decision theory:
- Normative decision theory: Concerned with the identification of optimal decisions, where optimality is often determined by considering an ideal decision-maker who is able to calculate with perfect accuracy and is in some sense fully rational.
- Prescriptive decision theory: Concerned with describing observed behaviors through the use of conceptual models, under the assumption that those making the decisions are behaving under some consistent rules.
- Descriptive decision theory: Analyzes how individuals actually make the decisions that they do.
Decision theory is a broad field from management sciences and is an interdisciplinary topic, studied by economists, management scientists, medical researchers, mathematicians, data scientists, psychologists, biologists,[2] social scientists, philosophers[3] and computer scientists.
Empirical applications of this theory are usually done with the help of statistical and discrete mathematical approaches from computer science.