Average Competence, Variability in Individual Competence, and Accuracy of Statistically Pooled Group Decisions

Abstract

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.