{"id":93639,"date":"2023-02-20T17:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T21:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=93639"},"modified":"2023-02-27T16:12:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T20:12:43","slug":"what-is-a-problem-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/what-is-a-problem-space\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Problem Space in Diversity Science?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a problem space in diversity science? Why do diverse groups have a better grasp of the problem space? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Rebel Ideas<\/em>, author Matthew Syed explains how diverse groups are more collectively intelligent than homogenous ones. His book explains why a problem space is central to diversity and how collective intelligence boosts group performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn what a problem space is and its connection to diversity science, according to Syed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Problem Space & Diversity Science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people think of diversity in the context of social justice. But Matthew Syed takes a different approach, exploring how diversity boosts group performance and intelligence. In particular, he argues that we should foster diversity because diverse groups are more collectively intelligent than homogeneous ones<\/strong>. In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the key concepts that underlie Syed\u2019s arguments. In particular, we\u2019ll examine what a problem space<\/em> is and how cognitively diverse groups<\/a> have a better grasp of the problem space, and therefore are more collectively intelligent <\/em>than homogeneous groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining the Problem Space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, what is a problem space? According to Syed, the notion of a problem space is central to diversity science. Put simply, the problem space encompasses every idea and perspective relevant to the problem you want to solve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, imagine you wanted to build a computer from scratch. In that case, your problem space would include knowledge of coding, battery science, computer hardware, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: The term \u201cproblem space\u201d is often used in a business context, where experts argue that focusing on the problem space\u2014considering the problem from numerous angles\u2014helps product managers understand their customers\u2019 needs, which<\/a> then helps them develop more successful products.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syed explains that for solving simple problems, an individual can grasp all of the problem space\u2019s ideas. If you need to tie your shoes, for instance, you probably have all the information within that problem space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for more involved problems, no single person can know all the information in the problem space. For example, nobody knows all of the information necessary to construct a rocket ship\u2014such problems require teams with diverse bodies of knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Researchers examining how 760 undergraduate students solved complex math problems found that teams of three, four, and five members outperformed even the best individuals<\/a>. In particular, these teams made fewer mistakes before getting the correct answer, and their solutions were more sophisticated than those of the best individuals. However, the researchers noted no significant difference between teams of three, four, and five members, suggesting that for some tasks, additional members don\u2019t improve problem-solving<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, Syed infers that homogeneous groups of intelligent individuals can\u2019t solve complex problems<\/a> by themselves<\/strong>. After all, such groups don\u2019t span the entire problem space. For instance, a team of genius coders with no other knowledge won\u2019t be able to build an entire computer, since they lack the scope of information needed to build computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Syed\u2019s claim that homogeneous groups can\u2019t solve complex problems<\/a> is overstated. Other experts argue that cognitively diverse teams solve problems more quickly<\/em> than homogeneous teams<\/a>, but they don\u2019t go as far as asserting that homogeneous teams can\u2019t solve such problems at all.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Cognitive Diversity Leads to Collective Intelligence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Groups that more fully cover the problem space are more collectively intelligent<\/em>\u2014in other words, they\u2019re better versed to understand and solve difficult problems. For this reason, Syed argues that cognitive diversity<\/strong>\u2014the range of insights, ideas, and viewpoints represented in a group\u2014is the main factor that determines collective intelligence<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Syed doesn\u2019t explicitly define \u201ccollective intelligence,\u201d though it\u2019s clear he connects it with group problem-solving ability. Other researchers take a slightly broader view of collective intelligence, however, defining it as a group\u2019s ability to complete various cognitive tasks<\/a>, including brainstorming<\/a> solutions, negotiating, and moral reasoning.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syed concedes that groups of more-intelligent members will be more collectively intelligent, all else being equal. However, if these members all share the same ideas and perspectives, they\u2019ll suffer from knowledge clustering<\/em>: Their knowledge will overlap substantially, creating a group that\u2019s scarcely more intelligent than any individual member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Syed\u2019s concession that groups of more-intelligent members are collectively more intelligent may be too generous; one influential study found no statistically significant correlation<\/a> between a group\u2019s average individual intelligence and its collective intelligence. These researchers did, however, find correlations between collective intelligence and other factors, including the rate of conversational turn-taking and the proportion of female group members.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, Syed concludes that we can\u2019t determine collective intelligence by adding up each member\u2019s knowledge, as that would overvalue homogeneous groups. Rather, he argues that collective intelligence depends on the differences <\/em>in what group members know. For this reason, groups that are cognitively diverse have greater collective intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, Syed argues that we fail to see the benefits of cognitive diversity because we suffer from perspective blindness<\/em>: We struggle to recognize our own perspective and its blind spots<\/strong> and thus don\u2019t appreciate the importance of other perspectives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Perspective blindness also occurs at a societal level, as societies fail to recognize their own blind spots. For example, we\u2019re quick to realize that previous societies permitted moral atrocities<\/a>, such as slavery and torture. So, it stands to reason that contemporary society likewise has some moral blind spots.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise: Assess Problem-Solving in Groups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Syed argues that diverse groups are better problem-solvers than homogeneous ones since diverse groups have better coverage of the problem space. In this exercise, reflect on a group that you were part of and consider how that group\u2019s diversity affected your ability to problem-solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Describe a recent situation in which you belonged to a group tasked with solving a problem. What was the problem?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    • Which diverse perspectives in the group helped cover the problem space?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      • How did those perspectives affect the group\u2019s problem-solving process? Alternatively, if the group lacked diverse perspectives, how did that lack of diversity affect the problem-solving process? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        • Which perspectives were missing<\/em> from the group? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          • How might these perspectives have changed the group\u2019s proposed solution to the problem?<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            What is a problem space in diversity science? Why do diverse groups have a better grasp of the problem space? In Rebel Ideas, author Matthew Syed explains how diverse groups are more collectively intelligent than homogenous ones. His book explains why a problem space is central to diversity and how collective intelligence boosts group performance. Read on to learn what a problem space is and its connection to diversity science, according to Syed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":86282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,160],"tags":[917],"class_list":["post-93639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology","category-science","tag-rebel-ideas","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Is a Problem Space in Diversity Science? - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a problem space? 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