This study aimed to check if a Decision Support System (DSS) reproduces the process of human decision. For this, we used the fundamental elements of the Saaty's (1991) Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which allows up to five categories of analysis. Accordingly, through a laboratory experiment enacted the task of choosing a notebook in two different ways: with the aid of a DSS; and without the aid of the system, and only the individual's mind to guide the decision while using a think aloud protocol. The results showed significant differences for four of the five categories of analysis. Through hypothesis testing, the only category that had no significant difference in both tasks was the order of choice criteria. Regarding the other categories, statistical evidence did not support the idea that the processes are similar, even if the final decision was the same. For this reason, this study's hypothesis was not confirmed; it is not possible to say that a DSS reproduces the human decision-making process. Regarding the conduct of the decision-maker concerning options for finding information, the process is similar in both tasks, since the decision-maker sought information according to criteria.
decision making; multiple-criteria methods for decision support; think aloud methodology
