Do agents believe they agree more with others over time? This paper explores how individuals perceive the belief updating behavior of others and the resulting disagreement in a sequential experiment with public information. We uncover a persistent gap in the perception of disagreement as a function of cognitive ability. Higher cognitive ability correlates with less perceived disagreement, although the average subject underestimates the extent of actual disagreement. Information about a partner's cognitive ability only impacts perceived disagreement when the partner has a low test score. Our findings highlight the roles of overconfidence and cognitive projection in shaping these perceptions.
Cognitive Ability and Perceived Disagreement in Learning
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, Vol.In Press(In Press)
24/02/2026
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- Cognitive Ability and Perceived Disagreement in Learning
- Piotr Evdokimov (Author) - National Research University Higher School of EconomicsUmberto Garfagnini (Author) - University of Surrey, Economics
- American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, Vol.In Press(In Press)
- American Economic Association
- 24/02/2026
- 991115195102346
- © The authors 2026.
- Economics
- English
- Journal article