Memory performance by decision-making groups and individuals

Abstract Four-person groups and individuals performed memory and decision tasks in an investigation of the social processing of information. As predicted, groups recalled and recognized information better than individuals across a variety of measures and decision conditions. Predictions from various models of group decision-making and problem-solving were compared to group and individual memory responses. No set of predictions closely matched the observed data, suggesting that memory tasks may foster a social process unlike those observed heretofore. Memory responses also indicated that groups check individual errors and exaggerate individual response tendencies.