STAR Decision-Making Model Overview
In 2024, we teamed up with the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University to roll out an all-new ethics curriculum. While the curriculum was developed for high school Betas, we’ve developed these resources to provide your 4th-8th grade Betas with a foundation for ethical decision making!
BEING BETTER BETAS
Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model Overview
Elementary
What Are Ethics and Good Choices?
Ethics means learning how to make good, kind, and fair choices. We use ethics when we think about how our actions affect other people.
When we make good choices, we try to:
- Tell the truth
- Be kind
- Be fair
- Do what’s right, even when it’s hard
You make good choices every day! Like sharing with a friend, following the rules, or helping someone who needs it.
What Is a Hard Choice (Ethical Dilemma)?
Sometimes, we have to make a choice and we don’t know what the right thing to do is. That’s called a hard choice. When this happens, we can use a special tool called the STAR Model to help us. It helps us slow down and think before we act.
Steps to Make Good Choices: Clemson University STAR Decision- Making Model
Take a deep breath. Think about what’s going on.
- What’s the problem?
- Who could be helped or hurt?
- Can I think of 2 or 3 ways to solve it?
Let’s ask some smart questions to find the best choice:
- Harm Test: Will it hurt anyone? → Try to choose something that helps, not hurts.
- Legality Test: Is it against the rules? → If it breaks a rule, it’s probably not the best choice.
- Precedent Test: What if everyone did it all the time? → Would that be okay or cause problems
- Respect Test: Would a grown-up be proud? → What would your teacher or parent say?
- Golden Rule Test: How would I feel? → Would I feel good or bad if someone did this to me?
- Peer or Friend Test: What would my friends think? → Would they say it’s a kind and fair choice?
If something feels wrong, it might not be the best idea. Pick the one that feels most kind, fair, and safe.
Now it’s time to do the right thing!
Even if it’s hard, doing what’s right helps everyone.
Afterward, think about what happened:
- Did it go well?
- Did I feel good about my choice?
- What would I do next time?
Thinking about your choices helps you become even better at doing what’s right!
BEING BETTER BETAS
Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model Overview
Junior
What Are Ethics and What is an Ethical Decision?
Ethics is about having the tools you need to make good choices. It helps us think about how our actions affect other people and the world around us. When we practice ethical thinking, we try to make the best decision we can, honest, fair, kind, and responsible, towards everyone—even when it’s hard. We make ethical choices every day, like deciding whether to tell the truth, including someone who feels left out, or standing up for what’s right.
An ethical issue is any time you make a choice about what may be the right thing to do. Like when you decide to play by the rules of a game or help a friend. Sometimes, there isn’t one “perfect” answer—that’s called an ethical dilemma. It’s when you have to make a choice, but you can’t quite tell what “the right thing is” to do. Learning how to make good decisions when you face an ethical dilemma helps you become a stronger leader, a better friend, and someone others can trust.
What is the Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model and Why Do We Use It?
The Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model is a simple tool that helps you make smart, thoughtful choices—especially when the right answer isn’t easy to see. It stands for Stop, Test, Act, and Reflect. We use it when we face ethical dilemmas, which are situations in which you can’t tell what the right thing to do is The Clemson University STAR Decision-Making Model helps you slow down, think carefully, and choose the option that’s best for everyone. It’s a way to become a stronger leader and someone others can count on to do what’s right.
Steps to Make Good Choices: Clemson University STAR Decision- Making Model
The first step is to stop and think before deciding. Ask yourself these questions: What’s the problem? Who will be affected by what I choose?
Try to come up with at least three different ways to handle the situation. Stopping gives your brain time to think clearly about every part of the situation, instead of rushing into a choice.
Now it’s time to test your ideas and see which one is the best by asking yourself some important questions. We can call these “ethical tests”
Use these six tests to help you decide what could be the best option:
- Harm Test: Will this choice hurt anyone? Try to choose the one that causes the least harm.
- Legality Test: Does this break a rule or a law? If it does, it’s probably not the best choice.
- Precedent Test: What would happen if you made the choice over and over again? Would that be okay?
- Respect Test: Would someone you look up to (like a parent or teacher) be proud of your decision? If the answer is no, then it is probably not the best choice.
- Golden Rule Test: How would you feel if you were someone who was hurt by this decision? Remember Treat others the way you want to be treated.
- Peer or Friend Test: What would your friends think? Would they agree it’s a good choice? If the answer is no, then it is probably not the best choice.
If an idea hurts someone, breaks a rule, or just feels wrong, it might not be the right choice for you, or others involved.
After testing your ideas with these questions, pick the one that passes the most tests—that’s usually the best and most ethical choice!
Once you’ve tested your options, it’s time to act—that means choosing the best solution and doing it. Acting can take courage, especially if the right thing is hard to do. But when you’ve thought it through, you can feel confident in your decision.
After you’ve acted, take time to reflect on what happened. Ask yourself: Did things go the way I hoped? What did I learn? Would I do anything different next time? Reflecting helps you grow and make even better choices in the future.