Failure Does Not Mean Giving Up: Near Miss Outcomes Increase Subsequent Persistent Behavior of Undergraduates with High Perseverance

Du Xu; Feng Mengmeng; Yang Boxi; Kang Jia; Li Jianxiang; Bai Xuejun

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240111

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1) : 89-96. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240111

Failure Does Not Mean Giving Up: Near Miss Outcomes Increase Subsequent Persistent Behavior of Undergraduates with High Perseverance

Du Xu¹, Feng Mengmeng², Yang Boxi², Kang Jia², Li Jianxiang¹, Bai Xuejun²

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Abstract

Near misses occur when an outcome is adjacent to a desired outcome (a win). For instance, a standard three-reel slot machine requires three matching symbols to land on the pay-line for a win. A near-miss occurs when the two reels display matching symbols while the third reel is a non-match. Near-misses are known to increase continue persistence compared to full misses. This phenomenon is called as the near miss effect. Undergraduates also encounter near miss outcomes in learning activities. It is not clear whether near miss outcomes can promote persistent behavior in learning activities. Moreover, previous studies have revealed that the personalities related to failure affect the near miss effect. Perseverance refers to the personality state in the face of setbacks or failure. It is unclear whether perseverance affects the near miss effect. The mechanism of perseverance affecting the near miss effect is also unclear. Thus, the purpose of the study is to examine the effect of near miss outcomes on promoting persistent behavior, the effect of perseverance on the near miss effect, and the mediating role of counterfactual thinking between perseverance and persistent behavior after getting near miss outcomes in learning activities.
In study 1, undergraduates who failed the CET test (the points were below 425) were invited as subjects. They were divided into the near miss group (the points were between 394 and 424) and the full miss group (the points were below 364). Their confidence in success and persistent intentions were measured. In study 2, undergraduates with high and low perseverance were selected as participants by using the Undergraduate Perseverance Scale. They were asked to complete a cognitive task (10 questions, and the qualified standard was to answer 8 questions correctly) and encountered a near miss outcome (seven questions were answered correctly) or a full miss outcome (less than three questions were answered correctly). Their confidence in success and persistent behavior were then measured. In study 3, undergraduates were asked to complete a cognitive task, and encountered a near miss outcome. Their persistent behavior, perseverance, and counterfactual thinking were then measured.
The results of study 1 found that undergraduates in near miss group expressed more confidence in success and persistent intentions compared to those in full miss group. The results of study 2 found that the confidence in success and persistent behavior of undergraduates with high perseverance after getting the near miss outcome were better than those after getting the full miss outcome. The results of study 3 found that counterfactual thinking partially mediated the relationship between perseverance and persistent behavior after getting the near miss outcome.
In conclusion, the present study reveals that the near miss effect exists in learning activities, and near miss outcomes have positive impact in increasing persistent intentions and persistent behavior of undergraduates. Perseverance affects the near miss effect. Specifically, the near miss effect only exists in the learning activities of undergraduates with high perseverance. Moreover, counterfactual thinking and perseverance jointly affect undergraduates’ persistent behavior after getting the near miss outcome.

Key words

near miss / failure / persistent behavior / counterfactual thinking / perseverance

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Du Xu, Feng Mengmeng, Yang Boxi, Kang Jia, Li Jianxiang, Bai Xuejun. Failure Does Not Mean Giving Up: Near Miss Outcomes Increase Subsequent Persistent Behavior of Undergraduates with High Perseverance[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2024, 47(1): 89-96 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240111

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