Quality of decisions: Individuals versus real and synthetic groups

Abstract

Compared the quality of decisions on 3 economic problems for individuals, 2 forms of real 5-person groups, and 3 synthetic group-decision rules. A total of 185 undergraduates first made decisions as individuals or as group members and then participated in the opposite condition. Real groups with no previous exposure to the problems made better decisions than did groups whose members had previously made individual decisions on the same tasks, and made decisions superior to a plurality synthetic decision rule, but inferior to the "best man" or I. Lorge and N. Solomon's Model A rule (1955). Both types of real groups outperformed individuals. The relationship between decision quality and riskiness of decision alternatives varied in the 3 decision tasks. Real groups with no prior exposure to the task responded to the suggested risk norm more appropriately than did other decision-making units. (22 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)