Is accuracy in decision-making determined by cognitive centrality?

Abstract

We aimed to examine whether a member with higher cognitive centrality could make accurate decisions in a multi-attribute decision-making task. Previous studies have indicated that group decisions often result in negative outcomes when relying on shared information. Nevertheless, considering the reliability and validity of shared information, using it in discussions may yield positive results. This study focuses on cognitive centrality, which is defined as the amount of shared information held by group members within a socio-cognitive network. Previous research has shown that members with higher cognitive centrality influence group decision-making, as they are often regarded as experts. This suggests they may be more accurate in their decision-making. However, empirical studies on the relationship between cognitive centrality and decision accuracy are scarce. To test this relationship, a two-choice task concerning the population of Japanese prefectures was administered to 150 participants. The results indicated that there was no clear relationship between cognitive centrality and the accuracy of decision-making.