When we ask people to estimate their performance …

Ignorance breeds confidence in all of us. Research was done on many college students. It was found that the more ignorant you were on a topic the less ability you have in comparing your abilities with others. So much so that typically people who score in the bottom 25% will say that they believe that they are around 60-75% or around the majority.

An interesting effect also happens in reverse with people who do score well (>90), they believe that more people are like them and say that they are around 80%. They are more critical of their abilities and display less confidence when comparing themselves.

It appears that when we ask people about their performance, where ever they are on the spectrum they try to place themselves around the mean.

Remember this the next time you are interviewing someone.
Do not ask about how someone thinks they perform you will always tend to the mean … but it not true for good or poor performers.

If you prefer ignorance listen to:

In defense of ignorance – This American Life

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