Garcia, S. M., &Tor, A. (2009). The N-effect: More competitors, less competition. Psychological Science, 20(7), 871-877.
This article introduces the N-effect—the discovery that increasing the number of competitors (N) can decrease competitive motivation. Studies 1a and 1b found evidence that average test scores (e.g., SAT scores) fall as the average number of test takers at test-taking venues increases. Study 2 found that individuals trying to finish an easy quiz among the top 20% in terms of speed finished significantly faster if ...