My thoughts-
1) The take-away from this study is leading the OP and (to a lesser extent) the authors of the study into a fallacy of unwarranted extrapolation. The trivial, non-trivial, and unique local effects responsible for the [avalanche-related] accidents that occur in the alpine and glaciated ski zones in Switzerland and Italy are being read into the great global phenomena of avalanche [death] accidents.
2) Avalanche fatality data available through the Utah Avalanche Center appears to contradict the OP’s/Study hypothesis. Below is a simple table that illustrates the correlation between group size and avalanche deaths among skiers/snowboarders in Utah between 2004 and 2016.
Date..........Group Size......Death
1/31/2016...........1....................1
1/21/2016...........2...................1
3/4/2015............2...................1
4/11/2013............1....................1
2/23/2012.........2....................1
1/28/2012..........3....................1
11/13/2011...........2....................1
3/26/2011...........7....................1
1/27/2010...........3....................1
1/24/2010...........2....................1
12/14/2008.........2...................1
12/23/2007........2...................1
2/21/2007..........3....................1
2/18/2007..........3....................1
4/3/2006...........2....................1
3/11/2006..........2....................1
1/14/2005..........5....................1
1/8/2005...........2.....................1
12/10/2004......2......................1
Note: Avalanche Fatality Details between 1987 and 2003 not available. Currently transferring paper docs to UAC website.
Source:
https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanches/fatalities
Summary:
13 of 19 deaths involved group size of 2 or less. (what the study considers small)
17 of 19 deaths involved group size of 3 or less. (what I would consider small)
2 of 19 deaths involved group size greater than 4.
from the looks of it I reckon the opposite of the proposed hypothesis hold true about smaller group dynamics / group think and safer travel in avalanche terrain, at least here in Utah.
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