Home
Psychological tests
General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS)

General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS) Test

Understand how you typically make decisions in just 5 minutes. With 25 quick items, get a clear profile you can use for coaching, teamwork, and personal growth.

Start Online Test

Questions: 255 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19,818 views

2,116 completions

1,563 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

13/20

Spontaneous (S)

Measures how strongly a person prefers making quick, in-the-moment decisions rather than deliberating or postponing choices.

Deliberate

Balanced pace

Impulsive

4 – 9: Deliberate | 10 – 14: Balanced pace | 15 – 20: Impulsive

A score of 13 falls in the Balanced pace range, suggesting you can decide fairly quickly when needed while still using some reflection in the process.

example score

19/25

Avoidant (A)

Measures the tendency to postpone decisions or avoid making choices, especially when decisions feel difficult or responsibility is salient.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 11: Low | 12 – 18: Moderate | 19 – 25: High

A score of 19 indicates a high avoidant style, suggesting decisions are often delayed or sidestepped when choosing feels challenging.

example score

19/25

Dependent (D)

Measures the degree to which a person seeks advice and guidance from others when making decisions.

Independent

Balanced

Highly Dependent

5 – 11: Independent | 12 – 18: Balanced | 19 – 25: Highly Dependent

A score of 19 indicates a strong tendency to rely on others’ input and reassurance before making choices.

example score

21/30

Intuitive (I)

Measures the extent to which a person relies on hunches and feelings when making decisions.

Low intuitive

Moderate intuitive

High intuitive

6 – 13: Low intuitive | 14 – 22: Moderate intuitive | 23 – 30: High intuitive

A score of 21 indicates a moderate preference for using gut feelings and inner impressions, while still leaving room for other decision-making approaches.

example score

18/25

Rational (R)

Measures how strongly a person tends to gather information and logically compare options before deciding.

Less rational

Moderately rational

Highly rational

5 – 12: Less rational | 13 – 19: Moderately rational | 20 – 25: Highly rational

A score of 18 suggests a moderately rational style, with a consistent tendency to weigh evidence and alternatives while still leaving some room for faster or less analytical choices.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Coaches and mentors

41%OF USERS

They use it to quickly understand a client’s decision habits and choose the right coaching focus.

Team leads and HR

34%OF USERS

They use it to anticipate how people decide under pressure and improve collaboration and role fit.

Self-improvement seekers

25%OF USERS

They take it to spot their default decision style and work on balancing it in daily life.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

Start Online Test

Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Spontaneous (S)

Average

9.3

Normal range

7.3 — 11.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Avoidant (A)

Average

11.8

Normal range

8.4 — 15.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Dependent (D)

Average

Normal range

8.4 — 15.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Intuitive (I)

Average

22.5

Normal range

19.4 — 25.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Rational (R)

Average

14.2

Normal range

10.4 — 18

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Start Online Test

Featured On

CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures typical decision-making preferences across five styles: rational, intuitive, avoidant, dependent, and spontaneous. Results describe patterns that may appear across different situations.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion time is about 5 minutes. It includes 25 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches usual behavior, not an ideal response. Answer all items based on first impressions unless an item is unclear.

What do the five styles represent?

Rational reflects analysis and comparison of options; intuitive reflects reliance on feelings and impressions. Avoidant reflects delaying decisions; dependent reflects seeking advice; spontaneous reflects fast decisions with limited deliberation.

How should results be interpreted and used?

Scores indicate relative preference for each style rather than a single fixed type. Results can support self-reflection, coaching, and team discussions, and should be considered alongside context and other information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

decision making

This brief self-report measure is used to characterize individual preferences in how decisions are typically made. The General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS) provides a structured profile of common decision-making approaches across situations.

It consists of 25 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Items assess tendencies toward rational, intuitive, avoidant, dependent, and spontaneous decision-making styles, yielding style-specific scores that can inform clinical formulation, consultation, or research when interpreted in context. The General Decision-Making Style Inventory (GDMS) was developed by Suzanne C. Bruine de Bruin and Scott G. Parker.

Author: Scott G. Parker, Suzanne C. Bruine de Bruin

Literature: Mann, L., Burnett, P., Radford, M., & Ford, S. Decision-making style and stress. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. 1997.; Scott, S. G., & Bruce, R. A. Decision-making style: The development and assessment of a new measure. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 1995.

Test Question Form