The Dunning-Kruger effect is real. But with a few basic sanity checks, I believe any thoughtful EA can determine whether it’s imposter syndrome vs actual under-qualification.
If you have evidence to support your non-trivial investment in the area—classes, degrees, self-directed learning, projects, jobs—you are probably at least qualified for an entry-level position in a given area.
Probably the easiest way to check is by asking an impartial 3rd party, like an 80kH Advisor, or even just someone who already has experience working in that field.
Note that this is heavily contested. A lot of the observed phenomenon in the studies (qualitatively: incompetent people thinking they’re average, great people thinking they’re only good) can be explained by “better than average” effect + metrics not being perfect + natural mean regression.
And of course pop science accounts of Dunning-Kruger is even more unhinged than what D-K claimed.
My own best guess is that the claimed effect is real but small.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is real. But with a few basic sanity checks, I believe any thoughtful EA can determine whether it’s imposter syndrome vs actual under-qualification.
If you have evidence to support your non-trivial investment in the area—classes, degrees, self-directed learning, projects, jobs—you are probably at least qualified for an entry-level position in a given area.
Probably the easiest way to check is by asking an impartial 3rd party, like an 80kH Advisor, or even just someone who already has experience working in that field.
Note that this is heavily contested. A lot of the observed phenomenon in the studies (qualitatively: incompetent people thinking they’re average, great people thinking they’re only good) can be explained by “better than average” effect + metrics not being perfect + natural mean regression.
And of course pop science accounts of Dunning-Kruger is even more unhinged than what D-K claimed.
My own best guess is that the claimed effect is real but small.
Me: “The Dunning-Kruger effect is real.”
Linch: “…the claimed effect is real…”
Great to know that we are in agreement, Linch! The logical follow-up question is what other factor(s) has (have) a higher impact on the effect?
Interesting. Of course my point is independent of the D-K effect, although that would enhance it.
I’m not saying worse ppl are more. overconfident. I’m just saying ‘some ppl are overconfident or overstating’
I’m also suggesting to there may be a secular overstatement of abilities and accomplishments in some fields. Less so among EAs I suspect.