Sampling Twice Results in More Accurate Judgments

Asking the same question twice to individuals, with some time between the questions, leads to different answers each time. However, the average of these answers is more accurate than each individual answer. The longer the time gap between the two questions, the better the accuracy of the average answer as more information is incorporated. This phenomenon highlights that when we ask ourselves a question, we are sampling from our mind, and obtaining the answer is akin to sampling from various possibilities. Sampling twice, especially independently, improves judgment and decision-making. This underscores the value of forming one's second opinions rather than always seeking external opinions or validations.