The Cruelest Extra Credit Problem

[GasBandit]

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

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

 

[Bubble181]

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.

 

[blotsfan]

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

 

[Ravenpoe]

 

[PatrThom]

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

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[drawn_inward]

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!

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[PatrThom]

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

 

[Dei]

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

 

[WasabiPoptart]

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!

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[AshburnerX]

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.

 

[jwhouk]

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

 

[Jay]

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

 

[Gruebeard]

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

 

[evilmike]

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