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The Cruelest Extra Credit Problem

Jul 16, 2015#1

GasBandit

http://mashable.com/2015/07/16/cruel-extra-credit-problem/

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Jul 16, 2015#2

Bubble181

GasBandit said:
http://mashable.com/2015/07/16/cruel-extra-credit-problem/

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Depends on the class size. In a "high school" size class of say 25, you could be almost certain of having at least 2 dingbats, so you're fucked. If this is a statistics class, choose 6, safe in the knowledge all your buddies'll choose 6. If it's a law class, I don't even want to finish the lame joke.

Jul 16, 2015#3

blotsfan

If I was doing poorly in the class if take 6%. Otherwise I would do the nice thing.

Jul 16, 2015#4

Ravenpoe

Jul 16, 2015#5

PatrThom

Ravenpoe said:

I just heard the Radiolab episode about that while I was driving home from work last week.
I literally cheered at the end. It was so brilliant!

--Patrick

Jul 16, 2015#6

AshburnerX

It's 2 or 6 points. If that is the difference between passing or failing, you've already failed. Just pick one and be done with it.

Jul 16, 2015#7

jwhouk

The concept, as it was explained, is the concept of being selfish vs. the concept of the greater good.

The professor stated elsewhere - don't have the link, sorry - that he's given out the two extra point only once or twice in his entire time providing the extra credit.

Jul 17, 2015#8

drawn_inward

PatrThom said:
I just heard the Radiolab episode about that while I was driving home from work last week.
I literally cheered at the end. It was so brilliant!

--Patrick

Radiolab is a great podcast!

Jul 17, 2015#9

tegid

You really should choose 2 unless you need the 6 points to make a difference in your grade. It's in your own interest!

Enviado desde mi GT-I8190 mediante Tapatalk

Jul 17, 2015#10

fade

I would bet money that no extra credit is given. A) half the students won't really read the problem--at least half B) There are trolls C) greed will drive people to the 6 choice.

People like to make those D&D alignment charts, but in truth, it'd be boring. Most people plot at True Neutral or Lawful Neutral, I think.

Jul 17, 2015#11

PatrThom

fade said:
People like to make those D&D alignment charts, but in truth, it'd be boring. Most people plot at True Neutral or Lawful Neutral, I think.

Maybe someone should do a moral compass-like study, but with alignments.

--Patrick

Jul 17, 2015#12

Dei

I'm totally in the 2 point camp. Because 2 > 0.

Jul 17, 2015#13

WasabiPoptart

fade said:
I would bet money that no extra credit is given. A) half the students won't really read the problem--at least half B) There are trolls C) greed will drive people to the 6 choice.

Like @jwhouk said, the professor states some where (I read it, too, but don't remember where) that he has only given the extra credit points once or twice in his career. Greedy trolls who don't bother to read!

Jul 17, 2015#14

jwhouk

The Tragedy Of The Commons (Baltimore Sun article)

The professor's name is Dylan Selterman.

Though Selterman was surprised to hear of the tweet's popularity, he wasn't surprised by the class' results; more than 10 percent of the class selected the six-point option, rendering everyone extra credit-less. Only one time in Selterman's time using this exercise (which he borrowed from one of his college professors at Johns Hopkins University) did students take the selfless route.

Jul 17, 2015#15

Covar

Prisoners dilemma?

I'd always pick 6 points. It's not like I would be facing actual loss if I didn't get the points.

Jul 17, 2015#16

AshburnerX

Covar said:
Prisoners dilemma?

I'd always pick 6 points. It's not like I would be facing actual loss if I didn't get the points.

The Prisoner's Dilemma has a "win" state though. This one is a guaranteed loss unless everyone acts altruistically... while the Prisoner's Dilemma only works if at least one party is working in self interest.

Jul 17, 2015#17

jwhouk

That's why this isn't the Prisoner's Dilemma. It's the "Tragedy of the Commons".

Jul 17, 2015#18

Jay

Isn't that a version of the John Nash Game Theory?

Jul 17, 2015#19

Gruebeard

I'd choose neither, writing a note saying I decline to participate in the social experiment.

Jul 17, 2015#20

evilmike

Gruebeard said:
I'd choose neither, writing a note saying I decline to participate in the social experiment.

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