How do I find the best solution for a problem?

1. Gather as much information as you can, especially statistics, if avilable.
2. Quantize the information insofar as is possible ( i.e. convert as much of the information to numbers as possible ).
3. Study the information until you know it.
4. Sleep on it. ( vitally important; it allows your subconscious time to digest the information and give you a possible alternative )
5. Give others you trust access to the information, especially bright, creative children ( I kid you not! ) They can often see the problem in a different light.
6. List your possible solutions, and the percieved advantages and disadvantages of each.
7. Decide which is the best course of action based on logic. If the “best” one hits you as wrong, go back to Step 5 and get more opinions.
8. Pick your course of action based not just on logic, but on the “gut reactions” of all those you have consulted.

My grandfather always made the tough calls at night in bed. No lights or stimulation, just running it through his head. Then he’d sleep on it and review it in the morning. If he felt the same he had his call. Probably not a good idea for someone who has trouble sleeping, but his track record was excellent.
@jenniferathena Welcome to fluther.

Lit review: learn as much as you can about the general area of the problem.
Hypothesis: identify a specific issue in the realm of the problem and create a hypothesis that can be tested.
Data gathering: gather data to help you test your hypothesis.
Data analysis: analyze the data to see whether you have found evidence to support the hypothesis.
Reporting: tell people what you found and why they should believe your results.
Next steps: tell people the questions you did not answer and hope to investigate next.

It’s all pretty standard. Science as we know it.

When in doubt, flip a coin and abide by the results.

Welcome to Fluther.

This is a very excellent question. More people should ask it.

The first thing you have to do is evaluate the importance of the decision. If “the problem” is whether to have vanilla or chocolate ice cream for dessert, then you don’t want to spend much time or care in making the decision. Flipping a coin is a great solution for maybe 90% of the decisions you’ll have to make in life.

But you’re asking about the other 10%: Do I accept Bob’s proposal of marriage now, or wait to see if something develops with Fred? Your life results could matter greatly based on how you answer that question. It’s worth study, obviously.

Well, of course, Bob’s a fantastic kisser, but… And Fred has a lot of potential, but…

So you make lists. Internally in your head or physically on paper or on a computer. Make lists. Be sure to keep them private. You don’t want other people influencing your decision except to the extent that you ask for advice!

Make a list of the things that Bob has going for him, and the strikes against him. How you feel (pro or con), even if it’s only relative to “the other guy” is a valid criterion for your decision, but you have to decide whether to give more weight to “Fred’s awesome potential as a husband and provider” (if you want to think of him that way – put it on the list) vs. “the way I feel when Bob walks into a room and smiles at me”. It all counts, but only you can say how much.

It’s worth asking people you know and trust with more experience on these matters “How much weight should I assign to the way I feel when Bob smiles at me?” “Will I grow to really love Fred the way I feel about Bob now, even though he’s kind of nerdy and, frankly, boring a lot of the time… but he always answers my call and he never breaks his word?” Wise people will help to guide you which choice is more apropos for the long run. But you have to ask the question, or at least ask it internally (some might call it prayer) and watch for the answers that occur in life, just waiting for you to notice.

Finally, and I know I keep saying this over and over again, but you haven’t heard it before: Ask the right questions. (This one you’ve asked is an excellent example.)

Don’t ask “Why is this-or-that so bad?” “What’s wrong with this thing?” Instead ask, “How can I do this thing better?” “What is the best thing I could do at this moment?” Your mind will work towards whatever solution you want it to come up with. If you really want “a list of problems in the world”, you can easily achieve such a list. And you’ll be depressed as all get-out with the result, and no closer to a solution. Ask, “What can I do to improve the world?” and you’ll also come up with a list of things that you could do (or at least try), and you’ll feel better for the effort.

From time to time also ask yourself, “What am I not paying enough attention to now?” to refocus where you want to be spending your life, too. That’s another question that people don’t ask themselves often enough.

This would be an interesting course on this topic:

The Art of Critical Decision Making, @ www.thegreatcourses.com/8mind

I believe in collecting all the information and then putting it together & making my decision based on what I believe to truly be the “best” depending on what my intended outcome is.

Outcomes could range from “the good of all” to something that serves just me or that serves my children first even though it may not benefit me etc. and so forth.

In the end, despite the amount of time required to collect/research the info, the best decisions are made when there is as much info as possible collected before the decision is made.

A backup after having all the info is to include others in your decision making process through asking them what they would do in order to see whether there may be an angle or analysis that you hadn’t considered.