4 ms·
I had a professor that used a slightly different approach. A correct answer would yield you 1pt, but any of the 3 incorrect answers would subtract 0.5pts. Expec
by hectormalot 10y ago
I had a professor that used a slightly different approach. A correct answer would yield you 1pt, but any of the 3 incorrect answers would subtract 0.5pts. Expected average result for guessing is negative, so he incentivized people to leave questions open if they were unsure.
- CaseyJParker 10y agoThe expected average for a straight guess with absolutely zero exposure to the material would still be slightly positive. If nothing else, there's intuition and ingenuity, which place a person just a touch above a truly random guess-generating-machine.
- hyperpape 10y agoWith four answers, you get .25 + (.75)(-.5) = -.125 for guessing. Edit: yeah, I badly misread this.
- cercatrova 10y agoThat's what the parent is saying to be not applicable to the situation; humans are not simply true random guessing machines but are able to reason and eliminate choices, which would increase the expected value to be positive.