
On March 7, 1907, the English statistician Francis Galton published a paper which illustrated what has come to be known as the “wisdom of crowds” effect. The experiment of estimation he conducted showed that in some cases, the average of a large number of independent estimates could be quite accurate.
This effect capitalizes on the fact that when people make errors, those errors aren’t always the same. Some people will tend to overestimate, and some to underestimate. When enough of these errors are averaged together, they cancel each other out, resulting in a more accurate estimate. If people are similar and tend to make the same errors, then their errors won’t cancel each other out. In more technical terms, the wisdom of crowds requires that people’s estimates be independent. If for whatever reasons, people’s errors become correlated or dependent, the accuracy of the estimate will go down.
But a new study led by Joaquin Navajas offered an interesting twist (转折) on this classic phenomenon. The key finding of the study was that when crowds were further divided into smaller groups that were allowed to have a discussion, the averages from these groups were more accurate than those from an equal number of independent individuals. For instance, the average obtained from the estimates of four discussion groups of five was significantly more accurate than the average obtained from 20 independent individuals.
In a follow-up study with 100 university students, the researchers tried to get a better sense of what the group members actually did in their discussion. Did they tend to go with those most confident about their estimates? Did they follow those least willing to change their minds? This happened some of the time, but it wasn’t the dominant response. Most frequently, the groups reported that they “shared arguments and reasoned together”. Somehow, these arguments and reasoning resulted in a global reduction in error. Although the studies led by Navajas have limitations and many questions remain, the potential implications for group discussion and decision-making are enormous.
1907年3月7日,英国统计学家弗朗西斯·加尔顿发表了一篇论文,阐述了所谓的“群体智慧”效应。他进行的估计实验表明,在某些情况下,大量独立估计的平均值可能相当准确。
这种效应利用了这样一个事实,即当人们犯错误时,这些错误并不总是相同的。有些人往往会高估,有些人则会低估。当足够多的这些误差被平均在一起时,它们会相互抵消,从而产生更准确的估计。如果人们相似,往往会犯同样的错误,那么他们的错误不会相互抵消。从更专业的角度来说,群众的智慧要求人们的估计是独立的。如果由于任何原因,人们的错误变得相关或依赖,估计的准确性就会下降。
但Joaquin Navajas领导的一项新研究提供了一个有趣的转折点(转折) 关于这一经典现象。这项研究的关键发现是,当人群被进一步划分为允许进行讨论的小组时,这些小组的平均值比同等数量的独立个体的平均值更准确。例如,从四个五人讨论组的估计中获得的平均值明显比从20个独立个体获得的平均值更准确。
在一项针对100名大学生的后续研究中,研究人员试图更好地了解小组成员在讨论中的实际行为。他们是否倾向于选择那些对自己的估计最有信心的人?他们有没有追随那些最不愿意改变主意的人?这种情况有时会发生,但并不是主要的反应。最常见的情况是,这些团体报告说,他们“共同争论,共同推理”。不知何故,这些论点和推理导致了错误的全球减少。尽管Navajas领导的研究有局限性,仍存在许多问题,但对小组讨论和决策的潜在影响是巨大的。
句子成分分析:
The experiment (of estimation (he conducted)) showed | that [in some cases],the average (of a large number of independent-
estimates) could be quite accurate.
句子语法结构详解:
* he 开头为定语从句,引导词 that 被省略。
* conducted 为谓语,采用一般过去时。
* showed 为谓语,采用一般过去时。
* that 为连词,引导宾语从句。
* be 为系动词作谓语。
* accurate 为形容词作表语。
* can 为情态动词。he 为人称代词主格。the 为定冠词。
句子相关词汇解释:
Phrase:
a large number of | 许多; 大量 |
Vocabulary:
experiment [ik'sperimәnt] | n. | 1) 实验,试验 2) 实践 |
estimation [,esti'meiʃәn] | n. | 1) 判断;评价;看法 2) (对水平、 数量的)估计 |
conduct [kən'dʌkt] | vt. | 1) 指挥(歌唱或音乐演奏) 2) 组织,安排,实施,执行 |
show [ʃәu] | vt. | 1) 显示出,流露出(情感、表情等) 2) 表明,显示, 证明 |
some [sʌm] | a. | 1) 一些 2) 某一, 某个 |
case [keis] | n. | 1) (侦查或诉讼的)案件 2) 箱, 盒, 容器 |
average ['ævәridʒ] | n. | 1) 平均数 2) 平均水平,一般水准 |
independent [,indi'pendәnt] | a. | 1) 独立的,自主的,自治的 2) 不相干的人所做的(或提供的),公正的,无偏见的 |
estimate ['estimət] | n. | 1) 估价 2) (对规格,数量或成本等的)估计 |
quite [kwait] | ad. | 1) 颇,相当,某种程度上 2) 完全, 十分,非常 |
句子成分分析:
The key finding (of the study) was | that when crowds were [further] divided into smaller groups (that were allowed tohave
a discussion), || the averages (from these groups) were more accurate [than those] [from an equal number (of independent
individuals)].
句子语法结构详解:
(smaller 为 small 的比较级形式)
* was 为系动词作谓语,采用一般过去时。
* 第1个 that 为连词,引导表语从句。
* when 为连词,引导时间状语从句。
* 第1个 were 为助动词。
* divided 为谓语,采用一般过去时和被动语态。
* 第2个 that 为关系代词,引导定语从句。
* 第2个 were 为助动词。
* allowed 为谓语,采用一般过去时和被动语态。
* to have 为不定式,作主语补足语。
* 第3个 the 开头为陈述句。
* 第3个 were 为系动词作谓语,采用一般过去时。
* accurate 为形容词作表语。
* those 为指示代词。the 为定冠词。a/an 为不定冠词。
句子相关词汇解释:
Phrase:
divide...into... | 把...分成... |
Vocabulary:
key [ki:] | a. | 最重要的,主要的,关键的 |
finding ['faindiŋ] | n. | 1) 调查发现,调研结果 2) [律]裁决,判决 |
study ['stʌdi] | n. | 1) 学习,研究 2) 作业,学业 |
crowd [kraud] | n. | 1) 人群 2) 一伙人,一帮人 |
further ['fә:ðә] | ad. | 1) 进一步,在更大程度上, 大更大范围内 2) (far的比较级) (距离上)更远, 较远 |
small [smɔ:l] | a. | 1) (尺寸、数量、程度等)小的 2) (服装、食品、家用设施等)小号的,小型的 |
group [gru:p] | n. | 1) 组,团体,群,批 2) [商]集团 |
allow [ә'lau] | vt. | 1) 允许,准许 2) 给予 |
have [hæv] | vt. | 1) 有,持有 2) 吃,喝, 抽(烟) 3) 患病,出现(某症状) |
discussion [dis'kʌʃәn] | n. | 1) 讨论,商讨 2) 详论,论述 |
average ['ævәridʒ] | n. | 1) 平均数 2) 平均水平,一般水准 |
these [ði:z] | a. | 这些 |
more [mɔ:] | ad. | 1) 更加; 更甚 2) (与形容词或副词连用,构成比较级)更 |
accurate ['ækjurәt] | a. | 1) 准确的(掷、射、击等) 2) 正确无误的 |
than [ðæn] | prep. | 比 |
those [ðәuz] | pron | 那些 |
equal ['i:kwәl] | a. | 1) (大小、数量、价值等)相同的,同样的,相等的 2) 平等的,同等的 |
number ['nʌmbә] | n. | 1) 数目,数字 2) 编号,号码, 序数 |
independent [,indi'pendәnt] | a. | 1) 独立的,自主的,自治的 2) 不相干的人所做的(或提供的),公正的,无偏见的 |
individual [,indi'vidʒuәl] | n. | 1) 个人 2) 与众不同的人,有个性的人 |
句子成分分析:
Although the studies led [by Navajas] have limitations and many questions remain, || the potential implications
(for group discussion and decision-making) are enormous.
句子语法结构详解:
(led 为 lead 的过去分词。)
* although 为连词,引导让步状语从句。
* led 为过去分词,作后置定语。
* have 为谓语,采用一般现在时。
* remain 为不带 to 的不定式,作宾语补足语(或称复合宾语)。
* 第2个 the 开头为陈述句。
* are 为系动词作谓语,采用一般现在时。
* enormous 为形容词作表语。
* the 为定冠词。
句子相关词汇解释:
Vocabulary:
although [ɔ:l'ðəu] | conj. | 1) 虽然; 尽管; 即使 2) 然而; 可是 |
study ['stʌdi] | n. | 1) 学习,研究 2) 作业,学业 |
lead [li:d] | vt. | 1) 带路,引导,带领 2) 处于领先地位,最擅长于 |
have [hæv] | vt. | 1) 有,持有 2) 吃,喝, 抽(烟) 3) 患病,出现(某症状) |
limitation [,limi'teiʃәn] | n. | 1) 限制,控制 2) (起限制作用的)规定,规制 |
and [ænd] | conj. | 1) 和, 与, 同, 并 2) 然后,接着 |
many ['meni] | a. | 许多, 很多 |
question ['kwestʃәn] | n. | 1) 问题,疑问 2) (待讨论或处理的)事情,议题,课题 |
remain [ri'mein] | vi. | 1) 剩下,留下,遗留 2) 仍然保持 |
potential [pә'tenʃәl] | a. | 潜在的,可能的 |
implication [,impli'keiʃәn] | n. | 1) 含意,暗指 2) 可能的影响(或作用、结果) |
group [gru:p] | n. | 1) 组,团体,群,批 2) [商]集团 |
discussion [dis'kʌʃәn] | n. | 1) 讨论,商讨 2) 详论,论述 |
decision-making | n. | 决策 |
enormous [i'nɔ:mәs] | a. | 巨大的,庞大的,极大的 |
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