Groups perform better than the best individuals on letters-to-numbers problems

Abstract

Eighty-two four-person cooperative groups and 328 independent individuals solved a random coding of the letters A-J to the numbers 0-9. On each trial the group or individual proposed an equation in letters (e.g., A + D = ?), received the answer in letters (e.g., A + D = B), proposed one specific mapping (e.g., A = 3), received the answer (e.g., True, A = 3), and proposed the full mapping of the 10 letters to the 10 numbers. As predicted, the groups had fewer trials to solution, proposed more complex equations, and identified more letters per equation than each of the best, second-best, third-best, and fourth-best individuals. We interpret the group superiority as due to the highly intellective nature of Letters-to-Numbers problems, which entail demonstrable recognition of correct answers, demonstrable rejection of erroneous answers, and multiple insights into effective collective information processing strategies. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.