Lecture 21

Question 1

Group decision making advantages vs. disadvantages

Answer 1

Advantages: more knowledges, approaches, better quality, increases acceptance/facilitates implementation

Disadvantages: amplification of errors/biases, domination of group by certain individuals, social pressure to agree (reaching agreement blends with obtaining right answer)

Question 2

Group errors and biases

Answer 2

Outgroup homogeneity bias - think of people in own group as heterogeneous and other group as homogeneous - own group as more varied. This can perpetuate stereotypes - seeing them not as individuals but outgroup members

Question 3

Conformity problem

Answer 3

People will conform even on ridiculous things like saying two lines equal length when they are not. When there are more confederates saying they are equal, participants conform more. But when even one confederate answers correctly, participants conform only 8% of time

Question 4

Why conform?

Answer 4

Overreliance on others for information. Want to fit in/group approval. May be public or private conformity.

Question 5

Group polarization

Answer 5

There may be choice shift in groups, whereby initial inclinations are amplified - groups are often more extreme than individuals. Group stance minus average of initial attitudes. Group-level confirmation bias, more discussion of points that conform with view.

Question 6

Solutions to group polarization

Answer 6

Include people with different perspectives in group. Search for confirming and disconfirming evidence. Remember opinions when started

Question 7

Groupthink

Answer 7

“deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures”

• illusions of invulnerability, collective rationalization, unquestioned beliefs, stereotypes of others, pressure on dissenters, self-censorship, people who protect the group from conflicting information, illusion of unanimity

Question 8

Preventing groupthink

Answer 8

Encouraging dissent, leader not stating opinions at the beginning, parallel groups to consider same question, neutral outsiders, institutionalize devil’s advocate

Question 9

Group problemsolving

Answer 9

Success depends on problem type. For difficult problems with no simple answer, groups can run into polarization and groupthink problems

Judgments of quantities and probability: group>all individuals

Brain teasers: group>average member, but best member> group

General knowledge questions: group>average member but best member = or > group