This study, through a literature review, attempts to delineate the features of studies on
socio-scientific issues (SSI), and to investigate decision making and the factors affecting decision
making. Forty-one papers dealing with SSI, selected through the RISS database, were followed
by content analysis: year of publication, type of research, research participants, research
method, and so on. The results indicate that only a few of the studies articulated explicit
definitions of decision making; although many of studies adapted sequential and descriptive
models of decision making. Regarding the process of decision making, the students showed a
fair understanding of problem identification while they had difficulties in searching for
information and mediating differing values. As well, the students seemed only to be able to
recognize the advantages or disadvantages of an alternative. As factors of the decision making
process, the nature of science, content knowledge, personal values, and gender difference were
investigated. This study suggests several ways to enhance students’ abilities of decision making:
the introduction of diverse issues in the classroom, thoughtful consideration concerning data
collection methods, exploration of various decision making models, explicit teaching of the
mediation of incompatible values, and the development of a theoretical framework for making
judgements about the quality of decision making.