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People who are dumb, think they are smart - SCIENCE AGREES

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:01 pm
by roid
http://web.archive.org/web/200310081547 ... 61121.html

i was reminded of this paper from another thread where:
Iceman, check it out he's totally made of ice. neat! this frosty person wrote:There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research.
and it occured to me, that if we actually HAD brain implants (making your brain bigger). the people who needed it the most, wouldn't even want it.
the amazing Mr Article wrote:Abstract
People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it. Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated their test performance and ability. Although their test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Several analyses linked this miscalibration to deficits in metacognitive skill, or the capacity to distinguish accuracy from error. Paradoxically, improving the skills of participants, and thus increasing their metacognitive competence, helped them recognize the limitations of their abilities.
and a funny bit. it's funny, and in convenient BIT form:
i'm assumed it's real and not an urban legend
The Amazing article just never stops. oh and it wrote:In 1995, McArthur Wheeler walked into two Pittsburgh banks and robbed them in broad daylight, with no visible attempt at disguise. He was arrested later that night, less than an hour after videotapes of him taken from surveillance cameras were broadcast on the 11 o'clock news. When police later showed him the surveillance tapes, Mr. Wheeler stared in incredulity. "But I wore the juice," he mumbled. Apparently, Mr. Wheeler was under the impression that rubbing one's face with lemon juice rendered it invisible to videotape cameras
hawhaw

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:47 pm
by Krom
Can you believe people were acutally paid to study for this paper?

HEH @ the quote titles.

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:13 am
by Avder
Har.