Do self-reported decision styles relate with others’ impressions of decision quality?

•Decision-making styles and Big Five traits predict self and peer-rated decision-making quality.•Decision styles predicted variance above that explained by the five-factor model.•Rational style appears to be a universal predictor of decision success.

Research has demonstrated the usefulness of decision styles for predicting various performance-related criteria. It is still unclear, however, which particular styles are associated with a general tendency to make high-quality decisions. Participants (n = 168) completed a common measure of five decision styles, along with a measure of the traits in the five-factor model of personality. Self and peer evaluations of general decision quality were obtained as performance criteria. Results showed that specific decision styles predicted variance in both measures of decision quality. And, there was clear evidence for incremental validity for specific decision styles when self-ratings were predicted. In the context of past research, this study supports a primary focus on rational or analytical styles for understanding and predicting decision success.