RESOURCE: How to Game a Grading Curve
This is an amazing game theory outcome, and not one that economists would likely predict…In this one-off final exam, there are at least two Bayesian Nash equilibria a stable outcome, where no student has an incentive to change his strategy after considering the other students’ strategies. Equilibrium #1 is that no one takes the test, and equilibrium #2 is that everyone takes the test. Both equilibria depend on what all the students believe their peers will do.If all students believe that everyone will boycott with 100 percent certainty, then everyone should boycott #1. But if anyone suspects that even one person will break the boycott, then at least someone will break the boycott, and everyone else will update their choices and decide to take the exam #2.
Written by Brian S McGowan, PhD
Brian is a research scientist and educational technologist. He helped transform Pfizer’s Medical Education Group and previously served in educational leadership roles at HealthAnswers, Inc.; Acumentis, LLC.; Cephalon; and Wyeth. He taught graduate medical education programs at Arcadia University for 10 years. Dr. McGowan recently authored the book "#socialQI: Simple Solutions for Improving Your Healthcare" and has been invited to speak internationally on the subject of information flow, technology, and learning in healthcare.
