Demonstrability and social combination processes on mathematical intellective tasks

Abstract

Research on social combination models of group problem solving and decision making indicates that the number of group members that is necessary and sufficient for a collective decision is inversely proportional to the demonstrability of a proposed group response. Mathematics is the preemenent domain of demonstrability. Accordingly, a truth wins social combination process, in which a single correct group member is necessary and sufficient for a correct group response, was predicted for five-person groups on 10 mathematical problems. After taking the problems as individuals, college students took them again as five-person groups or control individuals. They then took the same problems a third time as individuals. Groups performed better than individuals on the second administration, and individuals who had been in groups performed better on the third administration than individuals who had not been in groups. As predicted, the best-fitting social combination model was truth wins. We propose that demonstrability requires four conditions, and that the social combination process on a given task corresponds to the degree to which these four conditions are fulfilled.