We correct propositions advanced by Sattler in 1966 on the accuracy of group judgments as a function of the mean competence and distribution of competence of group members. We provide the special distributions which, for fixed total group competence, minimize/maximize group majority rule accuracy. We also show how group majority competence can be above/below that of group mean competence.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BlackD.The theory of committees and elections. London: Cambridge Univer. Press, 1958.
2.
De. CondorcetN. C.Essai sur l'application de l'analyse a la probabilite des decisions rendues a la pluralite des voix. Paris: Bachelier, 1785.
3.
EinhornH. J.HogarthR. M.KlempnerE.Quality of group judgment. Psychological Bulletin, 1977, 84, 158–172.
4.
GrofmanB.A comment on ‘democratic theory: a preliminary mathematical model.’Public Choice, 1975, 21, 100–103.
5.
GrofmanB.Judgmental competence of individuals and groups in a dichotomous choice situation. Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 1978, 6, 47–60.
6.
GrofmanB.OwenG.FeldS. L.Thirteen theorems in search of the truth. Theory and Decision, 1982, in press.
7.
LorgeI.FoxD.DavitzJ.BrennerM.A survey of studies contrasting the quality of group performance and individual performance, 1920–1957. Psychological Bulletin, 1958, 55, 339–372.
8.
LorgeI.SolomonH.Two models of group behavior in the solution of Eureka-type problems. Psychometrika, 1955, 20, 139–148.
9.
MargolisH.A note on incompetence. Public Choice, 1976, 26, 119–129.
10.
SattlerH. E.Effect of group variability on pooled group decisions. Psychological Reports, 1966, 18, 676–678.
11.
SteinerI. D.Models for inferring relationships between group size and potential group productivity. Behavioral Science, 1966, 11, 273–283.
12.
SteinerI. D.RajaratnamN.A model for the comparison of individual and group performance. Behavioral Science, 1961, 6, 142–147.