Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Techmology and Scientism => Topic started by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 05, 2013, 05:41:22 PM

Title: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 05, 2013, 05:41:22 PM
NEAT.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130604153331.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmind_brain%2Fneuroscience+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Mind+%26+Brain+News+--+Neuroscience%29

QuoteIf people are unable to perceive their own errors as they complete a routine, simple task, their skill will decline over time, Johns Hopkins researchers have found -- but not for the reasons scientists assumed. The researchers report that the human brain does not passively forget our good techniques, but chooses to put aside what it has learned.

The term "motor memories" may conjure images of childhood road trips, but in fact it refers to the reason why we're able to smoothly perform everyday physical tasks. The amount of force needed to lift an empty glass versus a full one, to shut a car door or pick up a box, even to move a limb accurately from one place to another -- all of these are motor memories.

In a report published May 1 in the The Journal of Neuroscience, the Johns Hopkins researchers describe their latest efforts to study how motor memories are formed and lost by focusing on one well-known experimental phenomenon: When people learn to do a task well, but are asked to keep doing it while receiving deliberately misleading feedback indicating that their performance is perfect every time, their actual performance will gradually get worse.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Bebek Sincap Ratatosk on June 05, 2013, 05:54:18 PM
Wow, very cool!

In fencing, my instructor made us run through various drills very slowly and very accurately, specifically to build the motor memories. Later when sparring, if he saw bad behavior, even if it resulted in a successful attack or defense, he'd stop us and make us go back to drills. That style of training makes a lot of sense with this study!

Thanks, Nigel
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:06:21 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This explains also why people who come up with ideas on how to do things - and then cannot adjust their idea to fit ugly facts - just get dumber and dumber.

I can think of 2 people I work with that are this way.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 05, 2013, 06:07:49 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:06:21 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This explains also why people who come up with ideas on how to do things - and then cannot adjust their idea to fit ugly facts - just get dumber and dumber.

I can think of 2 people I work with that are this way.

You mean the ones who try to force reality to bend to fit their ideas? :lol:
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:12:55 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 06:07:49 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:06:21 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This explains also why people who come up with ideas on how to do things - and then cannot adjust their idea to fit ugly facts - just get dumber and dumber.

I can think of 2 people I work with that are this way.

You mean the ones who try to force reality to bend to fit their ideas? :lol:

"That is very inconvenient.  Can't you just make it go for a lousy 12 hours?"
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 05, 2013, 06:16:36 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:12:55 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 06:07:49 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 06:06:21 PM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This explains also why people who come up with ideas on how to do things - and then cannot adjust their idea to fit ugly facts - just get dumber and dumber.

I can think of 2 people I work with that are this way.

You mean the ones who try to force reality to bend to fit their ideas? :lol:

"That is very inconvenient.  Can't you just make it go for a lousy 12 hours?"

:lulz: Yeah.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2013, 07:19:59 PM
This is highly interesting. And it makes want to e-mail this whole thread to my old boss. Here's why what you are doing is 100% counter-productive, you fuck-wit.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Cain on June 05, 2013, 07:23:59 PM
This also explains why the school of thought that says "let them build their confidence up" in education generally is such a wildly bad idea. 
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Q. G. Pennyworth on June 06, 2013, 01:08:52 AM
This is totally relevant to shit going down right now. I hate how dumb smart people can be.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on June 06, 2013, 03:54:13 AM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This might explain whole organizations and authorities and governments. I mean yeah, they get criticized, but they hang out with each other. It's a closed circle. They listen to EACH OTHER, right?
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 06, 2013, 04:00:58 AM
Quote from: stelz on June 06, 2013, 03:54:13 AM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 05, 2013, 05:57:09 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 05, 2013, 05:48:41 PM
This is amazing, and explains so many things.

It explains a LOT about why an entire organization can appear hopelessly incompetent or uninformed to an outsider, while within their organization maintaining the belief that their performance is flawless. If they set up a lot of feedback within their closed system that tells them all they're doing great work, and refuse to allow outside feedback in, they are actually triggering a mechanism that tricks their brains into believing they are doing great while the actual quality of their work and information declines.

OH MY GOD

This really explains so so much. It may seem like a small thing but it's really helpful in terms of my primary interest, which is why people are fuck ups.

This might explain whole organizations and authorities and governments. I mean yeah, they get criticized, but they hang out with each other. It's a closed circle. They listen to EACH OTHER, right?

Bingo.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 06, 2013, 04:02:35 AM
Quote from: Cain on June 05, 2013, 07:23:59 PM
This also explains why the school of thought that says "let them build their confidence up" in education generally is such a wildly bad idea.

YES.

Positive feedback is definitely an important part of the learning process. It's just that without negative feedback, it's meaningless.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 06, 2013, 04:03:27 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2013, 07:19:59 PM
This is highly interesting. And it makes want to e-mail this whole thread to my old boss. Here's why what you are doing is 100% counter-productive, you fuck-wit.

Except he won't listen, because you're not inside his parameters for feedback.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Don Coyote on June 06, 2013, 04:11:38 AM
This reminds me of "Government Runs on Bad Signal"
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Pæs on June 06, 2013, 07:17:37 AM
Quote from: M. Nigel Salt on June 06, 2013, 04:03:27 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2013, 07:19:59 PM
This is highly interesting. And it makes want to e-mail this whole thread to my old boss. Here's why what you are doing is 100% counter-productive, you fuck-wit.

Except he won't listen, because you're not inside his parameters for feedback.

See, I knew my occasional historical "here's some feedback about why you're a dick for your own good" conversations with people were just me wanting to yell at them but until this sentence I didn't FULLY understand why they were no more than that.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Telarus on June 06, 2013, 05:21:44 PM
Very good find, thanks Nigel!
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Reginald Ret on June 24, 2013, 02:13:18 PM
Cool!
I already give quite a lot of feedback at work, but i will endeavor to make more of a point of it.
Luckily we have a general rule here: If you make a mistake you get to fix it yourself.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: GrannySmith on June 25, 2013, 06:34:35 AM
I like this article a lot - when I'm back from the doc i'm sending this to certain people i know  :lulz: :lulz: :lulz: (after i read it again myself)

and it explains a lot for me too, for people of all ages! 
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: tyrannosaurus vex on June 25, 2013, 06:45:21 AM
Is the reverse true? I'm imagining a link between this phenomenon and the (future?) practice of governments purposely initiating, funding, and motivating violent opposition movements. If consistent synthetic false positive feedback results in declining performance, would intentional sabotage and synthetic negative feedback to an otherwise effective process result in performance gains?
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 25, 2013, 07:27:29 AM
Quote from: V3X on June 25, 2013, 06:45:21 AM
Is the reverse true? I'm imagining a link between this phenomenon and the (future?) practice of governments purposely initiating, funding, and motivating violent opposition movements. If consistent synthetic false positive feedback results in declining performance, would intentional sabotage and synthetic negative feedback to an otherwise effective process result in performance gains?

Nope. Accurate feedback result in accurate performance gains, inaccurate feedback results in inaccurate performance gains.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 25, 2013, 03:08:26 PM
I read this every day before the morning meeting.

For my own benefit, not for laughing at assholes.  I do that anyway.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on June 25, 2013, 03:12:01 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 25, 2013, 03:08:26 PM
I read this every day before the morning meeting.

For my own benefit, not for laughing at assholes.  I do that anyway.

:lulz:
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Bebek Sincap Ratatosk on July 03, 2013, 11:54:49 AM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 25, 2013, 03:08:26 PM
I read this every day before the morning meeting.

For my own benefit, not for laughing at assholes.  I do that anyway.

:lulz:

Excellent idea!!
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Golden Applesauce on July 04, 2013, 03:15:26 AM
Remember that accurate feedback also includes telling people when they've done well. If people put in extra effort to do something the right way but don't get any feedback that the extra effort added extra value, they'll eventually start cutting corners.
Title: Re: If we can't see our mistakes, our competence declines
Post by: Bebek Sincap Ratatosk on July 04, 2013, 10:37:16 AM
Quote from: Golden Applesauce on July 04, 2013, 03:15:26 AM
Remember that accurate feedback also includes telling people when they've done well. If people put in extra effort to do something the right way but don't get any feedback that the extra effort added extra value, they'll eventually start cutting corners.

Damn straight! If they get no positive feedback, they have no reinforcement, they have no positive outcome... so there's nothing to keep them going in the right direction.

I think we see that sometimes here on PD. Occasionally, we're all in a mood where we shit on each others heads and it rolls into a big mess... other times, we shit on each other AND give mittens where due and the quality of discussion seems to rise.