I am attaching a link to a very interesting article. I cannot vet the research methods they used (welcome, commenters!), but there has been significant prior research into the Hundredth Monkey Effect and the Maharishi Effect, which indicates that there is a critical mass at which point an associated population achieves a new level of awareness, comprehension or other cognitive benefit from someone else's learning.

Just goes to show you, no one has to try to change everything on their own.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725190044.htm