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Title: Measuring the predictability of life outcomes with a scientific mass collaboration
How predictable are life trajectories? We investigated this question with a scientific mass collaboration using the common task method; 160 teams built predictive models for six life outcomes using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a high-quality birth cohort study. Despite using a rich dataset and applying machine-learning methods optimized for prediction, the best predictions were not very accurate and were only slightly better than those from a simple benchmark model. Within each outcome, prediction error was strongly associated with the family being predicted and weakly associated with the technique used to generate the prediction. Overall, these results suggest practical limits to the predictability of life outcomes in some settings and illustrate the value of mass collaborations in the social sciences.
Authors:
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Award ID(s):
1750729 1735095 1704444 1760052
Publication Date:
NSF-PAR ID:
10171692
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume:
117
Issue:
15
Page Range or eLocation-ID:
8398 to 8403
ISSN:
0027-8424
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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