Impact of correlated information on pioneering decisions

Normative models are often used to describe how humans and animals make decisions. These treat deliberation as the accumulation of uncertain evidence that terminates with a commitment choice. When extended social groups, such assume individuals independent observations. However, typically gather from common sources, their observations rarely independent. Here we ask: For group ideal observers who do not exchange information, what is impact correlated on decision accuracy? We show even when agents identical, causes accuracy depend temporal order. The first decider less accurate than lone observer, early deciders late deciders. phenomena occur despite fact rational use same criterion, so they equally confident in analyze discrete macroscopic evidence-gathering explain why observer correlated. Pooling decisions using majority rule does rescue results only modest gain. Although an idealized model, believe our analysis offers insights exactly groups integrate form