Lesson:
Engage:
Whenever you make a decision, you rarely have all the information you need. There are typically components to every decision-making scenario that are just not known. But, oftentimes we can get more information to make better informed decisions. We will rarely have all the information we would like, but we can get more information, and that will lead us to make stronger decisions.
There are many things to keep in mind when gathering information in order to make stronger decisions. In this lesson, we will focus on two things:
- While it’s great to gather additional information when making decisions, we need to know what sort of information to get. Specifically, we need to know that some information is knowable, and some information is not knowable.
- We must also consider the idea that, sometimes, it is beneficial to gather information from multiple sources.
First let’s explore the concept of knowable and unknowable information. Those categories are exactly like they sound – knowable information is information you can find out. It might not be easy, but it’s possible to get an answer. Unknowable information is something that nobody knows and cannot be figured out
Let’s look at an example: Let’s imagine that you and your best friend have been fighting lately. You love your best friend, and many days are super fun with them. But there seems to be some tension lately, and every few days a conflict seems to emerge. Your best friend is hosting a party next weekend. Of course you want to go, but you aren’t sure how it will all play out. Before you make a rushed decision as to whether or not you should go, you should probably seek out additional information. But: You should know that only some of the information that might help you make this decision is knowable. For example: Here are some things that are knowable: (1) Who else will be at the party, (2) Where will the party be, and—more specifically—will it be held in a public place, and (3) What will you be doing at the party. Here are some things that are not knowable: (1) Will you and your best friend be on speaking terms on the day of the party, (2) What the mood will be at the party, (3) What your best friend’s attitude will be on the day of the party, (4) How you’ll feel on that day, (5) How other people will treat you, (6) Whether you’ll have fun, and—ultimately—(7) Whether this will resolve or worsen your friendship. If you get answers to all of these questions – including the knowable pieces and the unknowable ones, you’d be able to make a perfect decision. Unfortunately, you likely won’t be able to get perfect information about all those unknowable pieces. Nonetheless, answers to the knowable questions will help you, too. They might not help as much as knowing all the answers to all the questions, but they will certainly help. It’s worth identifying what information is knowable and what information is unknowable so you can focus your attention on getting the knowable information, and so you can humble yourself in acknowledgment that some information is unavailable.
I’d like for us to go through three more examples. In the first scenario, I will model the process for you. We’ll do the second scenario together as a class. And then, you’ll be expected to complete the third scenario independently. So be sure to pay close attention, and let me know if you need help!
SCENARIO 1: Your teacher tells the class that she graded last week’s test, and the class did not do as well as she was hoping. She says that because grades were so low, she wants to give students an opportunity to attempt to demonstrate their knowledge again with a new assessment. She says that if you choose to take the new exam, whatever you get on that test will count as your official grade, whether you go up or down. What information would you want to know to make the best decision you can make, and is the information knowable or unknowable? Sample answer: Knowable information includes: (1) What did you score on your first attempt, (2) When will the makeup exam be scheduled, (3) What is your schedule like from now until the makeup exam – will you have additional time to study. Here are pieces of information you are not likely to know: (1) Exactly what questions will be included on the makeup exam, (2) Will you be fully healthy on the day of the makeup exam, (3) Will something happen on the day of the makeup exam that might prove distracting for you?
SCENARIO 2: You are getting ready to register for high school courses. While all students are expected to take a math class, an English class, a science class, and a physical education class, you have some flexibility to pick the courses you want. You can decide, for example, to take a standard math class or an honors math class. You also have two classes for which you can pick whatever you want – from Spanish to economics to art. There are certain classes that you have to take at some point while you’re in high school in order to graduate, but you can take them at any time, and you are free to register for any of your freshman year classes that you want. What information would you want to know to make the best decision you can make, and is the information knowable or unknowable? Sample answer: Knowable information includes: (1) What is the complete list of required courses that is needed before graduating, (2) What courses are recommended by the colleges you wish to attend after high school, (3) Which teachers are teaching the courses, and (4) What classes are your friends planning to take. Here are pieces of information you are not likely to know: (1) What your interests will be four years from now, (2) What your schedule will feel like overall, and (3) How your relationships with friends will change over time.
SCENARIO 3: Your school is starting a theater program and will be hosting a play in about five months. You are considering auditioning for the play. If you are accepted, you’ll work with the other actors three to four days per week as you learn your lines, review the stage directions, and practice your performance. Then, there will be multiple performances of the play open to other students at the school and to the broader community. What information would you want to know to make the best decision you can make, and is the information knowable or unknowable? Sample answer: Knowable information includes: (1) Exact time commitment, (2) Role types available, (3) If any friends of yours will also be participating. Some pieces of information that are unknowable include: (1) How the program will be received in the community, (2) How well you’ll get along with the cast and crew, (3) How confident you’ll feel on stage.
Now that we have covered the difference between knowable and unknowable information, there is another important note to make about gathering and analyzing information. That is: Sometimes it is beneficial to collect information from multiple sources and put all the pieces together to make your own decision. For example, if you’re deciding what classes to sign up for in high school, you may want to talk with your family, talk to the guidance counselor at the high school, and review course requirements from college websites. All of that information can inform your decision. Similarly, if you’re deciding whether or not to try out for the play, you may want to talk to students from other schools who have participated in theater programs. If you could talk to multiple people at multiple schools, you’ll likely make a more well-informed decision. If you’re looking to discover new music, ask many different friends, especially friends who have eclectic musical tastes.
We don’t often humble ourselves to collect information when making decisions, but that is exactly what the best decision makers do. For decisions you face, identify what information is knowable or unknowable, and then—when appropriate—gather information from multiple sources.
