Describing the Dunning-Kruger Effect
Confidence vs. Competence
I want to return briefly to a reference I made in my Reader Profile: the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
I encourage you to do a little research into the Dunning-Kruger Effect, for that will give you a lot more information than I can give you here.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect describes the evident disparity between perceived ability and measurable competence. I.e., confidence versus competence. The argument says that people with lower competence tend to perceive their ability or knowledge at a higher level than is measurable.
Various arguments exist as to the reality of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Some argue that the effect does not actually exist. Of course, some counterarguments say that the effect, in fact, does exist.
I don't want to get into analyzing the research on cognitive biases. I will take personal experience, and observation as my proof that it does exist. Anecdotal evidence exists in news coverage and social media commentary.
I will use my assumption of the existence of the Dunning-Kruger Effect as a way to profile my newsletter audience. I don't want to waste my time trying to convince people who are certain of their understanding of the topics about which I wish to write. I want instead to target the people who are willing to think about their points of view. Better yet I want to develop relationships (online) with people willing to give me feedback to either confirm or disconfirm the opinions that I express.
I have republished the diagram that I offered in my previous newsletter.
Don’t be afraid to examine what you think.
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. - Mark Twain