Evidence for a Collective Intelligence Factor in the Performance of Human Groups

TLDR

Human cognitive performance across diverse tasks is captured by a general intelligence factor g, which is linked to outcomes such as income and academic achievement, though its precise nature remains debated. The study reports a psychometric method to quantify collective intelligence (c), measuring how well groups solve diverse problem‑solving tasks. The authors use a psychometric approach to derive a collective intelligence factor c from group performance on varied problem‑solving tasks. Woolley et al.

Abstract

Meeting of Minds The performance of humans across a range of different kinds of cognitive tasks has been encapsulated as a common statistical factor called g or general intelligence factor. What intelligence actually is, is unclear and hotly debated, yet there is a reproducible association of g with performance outcomes, such as income and academic achievement. Woolley et al. (p. 686 , published online 30 September) report a psychometric methodology for quantifying a factor termed “collective intelligence” ( c ), which reflects how well groups perform on a similarly diverse set of group problem-solving tasks. The primary contributors to c appear to be the g factors of the group members, along with a propensity toward social sensitivity—in essence, how well individuals work with others.