Study: Group Intelligence Stronger Than Individual
When it comes to intelligence, the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. A new study co-authored by Carnegie Mellon University, MIT and Union College researchers shows:
■ The existence of a collective intelligence among groups of people who cooperate well
■ That such intelligence extends beyond the capabilities of the groups’ individual members
■ And that the tendency to cooperate effectively is linked to the number of women in a group
Many social scientists have released research stating that the ability of individuals that have successfully completed diverse tasks demonstrate a measurable level of intelligence. In this most recent study, the researchers applied a similar principle to small teams of people. They discovered that groups with the right kind of internal dynamics perform well on a wide range of assignments, a finding that can impact businesses and organizations. “The survey confirms earlier findings,” says Diversity expert Michael Stuber, “and it reinforces the necessity for both Diversity and Inclusion, along with robust education and training for people managers”.
Thomas W. Malone, a co-researcher and MIT Professor stated, “We found that there is a general effectiveness, a group collective intelligence, which predicts a group’s performance in many situations.” That collective intelligence, the researchers believe, stems from how well the group works together. For instance, groups whose members had higher levels of “social sensitivity” were more collectively intelligent. “Social sensitivity has to do with how well group members perceive each other’s emotions,” says Christopher Chabris, a co-researcher and Union College Professor.
