They have four attempts to fill a container. The task is computerized and communication between participants is not allowed. Garcia's past experience indicates that most do, but for some, it's a struggle. Whether participants compete or cooperate depends upon the level of understanding they reach. Individualistic people see only their containers and try to fill them first.
Competitive people see both their containers and the other participants'.
The competitors try not only to fill their own, but to keep others from filling theirs. In their minds, cooperation means losing, Garcia said. For some, that just won't do. In a study of UCLA pre-medical students who were given 10 attempts each to fill their containers, Garcia watched as participants exchanged the same marble 20 times. Garcia has conducted research in the United States, Mexico and Europe.