Shared+Cognition+and+Shared+Theories


 * Shared cognitions and shared theories: telling more than we can know by ourselves? **

//Isabella Melano//
The article discusses research involving shared cognition and shared theories. When it comes to shared cognition, the words speaks for themselves - they refer to conciously shared cognitive functions which occur within a group, and it results in a decision making process. On the other hand shared theories can be understood as a previous set of values already shared by a group, they may influence the decision making process and therefore are taken in account when it comes to shared cognitions.

When it comes to the decision making processes there are two that are more relevant the Individual decisions and the group ones. The individual decisions differ from group ones, and what makes them different is the cognitions involved in them, whenever making a solo choice you consider the shared theories, that is the bagagge you carry, from society's common knowledge - shared assumptions and beliefs that may influence the beliefs of a group. Whereas when you make decisions in groups the shared cognition is also present - as consciously shared cognitive functions that occur within group context, with shared cognition they try to achieve a decision by sharing their thoughts with the rest of the group.

Shared cognition was proved to be more effective when it comes to decision making due to the fact that the majority rule is guided by it as sharing thoughts is a natural consequence of social interaction, but the individual decisions can in some cases be the easier path to take, because they are less biased than the group ones. Another main aspect presented in the article is how the outcome of sharing information in groups ‍does not depend on what was or was not considered on the discussion, but depends strongly on individual cognition, although shared cognitions can in some cases be superior to individual cognition through the process of correcting individual cognition errors. Shared cognition is particularly influential on the final group decision, as it was said before it actually is‍ a natural consequence of social interaction.


 * CAROLINA'S SUMMARY**

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The article "Shared Cognitions and Shared Theories: Telling More Than We Can Know by Ourselves?" by Brandon Randolph-Seng, Jacquline Cottle, Mario Calvo and Tammy Zacchilli, proposes a separation between the concepts of shared cognition and shared theories. =====

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Shared cognition is exemplified by members of a group clearly communicating their beliefs and decisions in an attempt to share their thought processes with the rest of the group. The idea of shared vs. unshared information influences the group decisions, which are based only on the shared ones. Sharing and participation are extremely important and the participation of all members of a group is even more important than the actual time and discussion a group has. =====

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Another idea presented is that when the correct solution is not clear, the majority perspective will usually prevail. This phenomenon may correct possible individual-level errors, but can also lead to more grupal-level errors, because groups sometimes make more extreme decisions than individuals. =====

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Shared theories are considered to be all the shared assumptions, beliefs, values, norms, or identities shared by a member that can influence the decisions of a group or how the group's members will behave. The reasons behind an individual's feelings or attitudes are generally unknown, therefore it is considered more prudent to share cognition instead of theories. =====

Bárbara Stéfany
 * Article**//: “////**Shared Cognitions and Shared Theories:** ////** Telling More Than We Can Know by Ourselves?” ** //

In the article "Shared Cognitions and Shared Theories Telling More Than We Can Know" by Seng, Cottle, Zacchilli and Calvo propose the separation between shared cognitions and shared theories. The idea of shared representation” is that if enough group members think alike, then the group intellective product becomes a function of group-level rather than individual-level cognitive functioning (Thompson & Fine, 1999)”.The term shared cognition is "used to refer to conscious cognitive functioning shared by a set of group members, as opposed to the broader conceptualization of representation that subsumes a shared cognition”. The authors also discovered that there are moments were working in a group is better than working individually. However, the shared cognitions will be used to refer to conscious cognitive functioning that are shared by a group of members. The shared theories are" based on the notion of implicit shared beliefs among group members (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977)".

Marina's summary

In the article "Shared Cognitions and Shared Theories Telling More Than We Can Know" written by Seng, Zacchilli, Cottle and Calvo the concept of group cognition (when most people in a group think alike about a task) is divided in two parts, the first one is called shared cognitions and the other is called shared theories. Shared cognitions are shared rationale for decision making, it's when a conscious cognitive functioning is shared by a set of group members.To explain this process, a group of researchers has decided to delineate the differences between shared and unshared ideas, they found out that when information is hidden, this may change the group decision. So, majority rule is dependent on shared cognitions and sometimes the majority perspective is more correct than the minority/individual one, even though in some cases the influence of the minority reflects on the group final decision. Also the researchers found out that groups can be better in some activities than individuals, but they equally make more grupal mistakes in the final results, this fact is affected by the work process because if a group goes through the whole process together they have a more likable result than the ones that are only joined together at the final presentation, this occurs because the ones that stay together for a longer time get to know the strengths and weaknesses of the other members of the group and work to put them together in order to have a better result. On the other hand, shared theories are shared norms, values, identities, the members' perceptual beliefs that may change others minds. This occurs in cultural groups where social interaction happens,share their beliefs come like a consequence of the interaction,and without the group realize that they are influencing other people with their way of thinking ,such as in a larger cultural groups such as a society. In sum, group cognition works more often than individual one,but they will always be dependent on each other the results can change related to the task that is asked, in some cases individuals will better and in other cases groups will.