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The Recognition Primed Decision Model

The RPD model explains how people can make good decisions under difficult conditions, like time pressure and vague goals. Developed by studying firefighters, the RPD model demonstrates how experienced decision-makers quickly size up the situation and determine a course of action without comparing options.
The video is a brief introduction to the RPD model, explaining how individuals fuse together "pattern matching" and "evaluation of action" to quickly identify a reasonable course of action. Based on work in the field of Naturalistic Decision Making, the model describes recognition primed decision making as a way experience is used to intuitively decide how to proceed, even under uncertain and potentially high stakes conditions. 
RPD Model Recognition Primed Decision Model
From "The RPD Model: Criticisms and Confusions". (2021) by Dr. Gary Klein

Select References

Klein, G. A. (1993). A recognition-primed decision (RPD) model of rapid decision making. Decision making in action: Models and methods, 5(4), 138-147.

Klein, G. (1998/2017). Sources of power: How people make decisions. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Klein, G. (2021). The RPD Model: Criticisms and Confusions. Psychology Today (online).

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  • Home
  • Videos
    • SMART Goals 2.0
    • Goal-Oriented Decision Making - The APE Model
    • Generative AI and Decision Making
    • The OODA Loop
    • The RPD Model
    • Reducing the Dunning-Kruger Effect
    • Using a Premortem
    • The Planning Fallacy
    • Accelerated Expertise
    • Conduct a SWOT Analysis
    • 4D's on a To-Do-List
    • The Trolley Problem
    • Wicked Problems
    • Reciprocity Bias
    • Motivated Change
    • Correlation vs. Causation
    • Maslow's Hierarchy and Innovation
    • Understanding Psychological Anchors
    • IDEA 4-Step Problem Solving
    • Using SMART Goals
    • How to Gain Insights
    • The Eisenhower Matrix
    • SMART Goals - 60 Seconds
    • Tactical Decision Games
  • Articles