A Statistical Explanation of the Dunning–Kruger Effect

Jan R. Magnus; Anatoly A. Peresetsky

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840180

Frontiers in Psychology (Mar 2022)

A Statistical Explanation of the Dunning–Kruger Effect

Jan R. Magnus,
Anatoly A. Peresetsky

Affiliations

Jan R. Magnus: Department of Econometrics and Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anatoly A. Peresetsky: Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Higher School of Economics (HSE University), Moscow, Russia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840180
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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An explanation of the Dunning–Kruger effect is provided which does not require any psychological explanation, because it is derived as a statistical artifact. This is achieved by specifying a simple statistical model which explicitly takes the (random) boundary constraints into account. The model fits the data almost perfectly.JEL ClassificationA22; C24; C91; D84; D91; I21

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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Abstract

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