g versus c: comparing individual and collective intelligence across two meta-analyses.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Organizational Behavior
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Collective intelligence (CI) is theorized as a group's general mental ability, measurable via a 'c-factor'.
• Previous research suggested the c-factor predicts group performance more effectively than individual IQ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To meta-analyze the correlation between the c-factor and group performance.
• To investigate the c-factor's predictive validity, particularly when controlling for individual intelligence (g-factor).

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of correlations from eight independent samples (N=857 groups) examining the c-factor and group performance.
• Sub-analysis of studies controlling for individual intelligence (g-factor) (N=366 groups).
• Assessment of statistical power across included studies.

Main Results:

• A moderate correlation (r=.26) was found between the c-factor and group performance across all studies.
• When controlling for individual intelligence, the correlation between the c-factor and group performance was negligible (r=.06).
• Approximately 80% of studies lacked sufficient statistical power to reliably detect correlations.

Conclusions:

• While a c-factor may exist and relate to group performance, its incremental validity beyond individual intelligence (g-factor) is questionable.
• Limitations, including low statistical power and methodological variations, necessitate caution.
• Further robust replication is needed to validate the c-factor's independent contribution to group performance.