In the LOWD model, which step compares second- and third-order effects?

• A. Locate
• B. Weigh
• C. Options
• D. Decide

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is weighing the ripple effects of a decision. In the LOWD model, the step that compares second- and third-order effects is about evaluating how these indirect outcomes stack up against one another—their chances, magnitudes, and overall desirability—so you can see which path has the most favorable balance when you move beyond immediate results. Second-order effects are the indirect results that come from the initial action, and third-order effects come from those second-order results, creating a chain of consequences. Weighing forces you to quantify and compare these chained outcomes before making a choice, rather than just listing them or picking impulsively. Locating would focus on identifying potential effects, options would involve generating possible paths, and deciding would be the act of choosing once weighing has clarified the trade-offs.