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Concept Note

Role of perceptions in Individual Decision Making

Introduction

Perception is a process by which individuals organize and interpret the sensory impressions in

order to give meaning to their environment.1 However, what an individual perceives can be

substantially different from the objective reality.2 Perceptions play a huge role how people

behave. Therefore from this it can be said that peoples behavior is based on what their

perception of reality is, not on reality itself. If this hypothesis is true, it brings us to a very

important question from the perspective of organizational behavior and organizational studies as

to how individuals arrive at their decisions. Is there a connect between the perceptions that

people have and the decision the take. And, in case there is such a connection, what is its

strength.

Proposal

The researcher proposes to analyze the complex and nuanced process through which Individuals

arrive at their decision; this shall include all an understanding and appraisal of all the competing

theories and perspectives on this matter which includes Industrial and Organizational

Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Politics etc. In doing so, the

researcher shall attempt to comprehend this immensely complex process. But that is not the

major focus of the proposed research. What the researcher is keenly interested in is the

hypothesis that there is a connection between the perceptions that an individual holds and the

decisions s/he takes, the strength of this correlation more so.

The researcher proposes to collect data through qualitative research by conducting interviews

and focused group discussions, etc. The researcher shall then apply quantitative techniques tomake sense of the data collected and prove or disprove the hypothesis with which the researcher

is proceeding in his research.

1Stephen P. Robbins et al, Organizational Behavior, p.176 (Pearson, Fifteenth Edition, 2012, New Delhi)

2Id.


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The researcher intends to analyze the various theories on perception and attribution formation.

This shall provide a thorough theoretical foundation for the study that the researcher is proposing

to undertake. This coupled with the ground data that the researcher intends to collect makes the

research hopeful that the research shall be a fruitful and beneficial research.

It is generally believed that the decision making process is highly individual centric, in so many

ways it is also the case as after all it is that individuals decision. But what is mostly neglected is

the very important fact that most of the decisions that the individuals take which are not based

purely on hunch or intuition is influenced decision. The question then is what influences these

decisions. The contention of the researcher is the perceptions that the individuals hold.

Hence the scheme of the researcher is very simple, he intends to first find out hoe [perceptions

are formed, then how individuals take decision and finally make a connect between the first two.

Methodology

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the research is to prove that perceptions play a major role in an Individuals decision

making process. The objective of this proposed research is to understand how individuals form

their perceptions. What colors their views? As has been pointed out earlier, the individuals think

that their perception of reality is what reality is. Then the other objective of this paper is to seek

an understanding in to the ways in which the perceptions can and does influence the decision

making process of the Individuals.

The researcher is of the opinion that such a research is both essential and beneficial for a better

understanding of Individual Behavior in the organizational set up.

Scope and Limitation

The scope of the proposed research is restricted to finding out whether there exists a correlation

between perceptions and individual decision making and if it does, what is the extent to which

perceptions influence individual decision making. Though the researcher intends to have an

understanding of the various theories about the decision making process, an in-depth or detailed

discussion on the same is outside the scope of the proposed research.


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The major limitation of this proposed research is that of time. Keeping in mind that time will be

a major factor, the researcher understands that an extensive collection of data may not be

possible and hence the researcher understands that a far reaching generalization may not be

possible from the findings of this research alone.

Source of Data

The researcher would base his research on both primary and secondary data. The primary data is

to be collected by the researcher himself and this is to by the help of primary research conducted

by the researcher.

The researcher shall also rely on extensive and quality secondary data in the form of books and

scholarly articles published on the subject. For this, the researcher intends to do a thorough

literature survey.

Research Questions

In the proposed research, the researcher intends to seek answers to the following research

questions

1. How are perceptions formed?2. How does perceptions mislead individuals in believing in a false sense of reality>?3. Does these perceptions have any bearing on the decision making process of the

individuals?

4. If so, to what extent?5. How can organizations and individuals working in organizations benefit from the lessons

borne out of this proposed research?

Hypothesis

The hypothesis with which the researcher begins his research isPerceptions has a huge role in

the decision making process of an individual.

Mode of citation


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The researcher shall follow a uniform mode of citation in his research, following the Blue book

mode of citation of footnoting.

Conclusion

The researcher is confident that this is a very important subject of research topic from the

perspective of Organizational Behavior as well as organizational studies. The researcher believes

that the hypothesis with which he is proceeding in his research may seem very straight forward

but the complexities of human behavior may suggest a completely different inference at the end

of this research.

The proposed research is important from the perspective of both the individuals and the

organizations. The proposed research is shall be analyzed by both qualitative and quantitative

techniques. This shall be done to come to a wholesome and holistic understanding of the subject

and make some quality inferences.

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