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Signal-detection analysis of group decision making
1Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. sorkin@ufl.edu
Psychological Review
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Group decision-making effectiveness was studied using signal-detection theory. While group performance matched predictions, larger groups showed decreased efficiency due to reduced individual effort, not information-sharing issues.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Decision Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Understanding group decision-making is crucial for optimizing collective performance.
- Signal-detection theory provides a framework for analyzing binary decisions under uncertainty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model and evaluate the effectiveness of group yes-or-no decisions using signal-detection theory.
- To investigate how group size, member competence, and interaction influence decision efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Applied signal-detection theory to model group behavior in a visual detection task.
- Varied group size, member competence, judgment correlation, interaction constraints, and decision rules.
- Measured performance efficiency against a statistically optimal group benchmark.
Main Results:
- Group performance aligned with theoretical predictions from the signal-detection model.
- Group decision-making efficiency declined significantly as group size increased.
- This decrease in efficiency was attributed to reduced individual effort, not impaired information integration.
Conclusions:
- Group size negatively impacts decision-making efficiency, primarily due to diminished individual effort.
- Signal-detection theory effectively models group performance, highlighting the importance of sustained individual engagement in collective tasks.
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