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

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240111

Abstract

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

摘要： 近赢结果指差一点获得成功的失败结果。为考察学习活动中是否存在近赢效应以及近赢效应的产生机制,研究1以大学英语四/六级考试失败的大学生为被试,按照成绩分为近赢组和普通失败组。结果发现：与普通失败组相比,近赢组有更强的成功坚信程度和坚持意愿。研究2以图形推理任务创设失败情境,考察高、低耐挫大学生得到近赢或普通失败结果后的成功坚信程度和坚持行为。结果发现：高耐挫大学生得到近赢结果后的成功坚信程度和坚持行为均好于得到普通失败结果后。研究3以图形推理任务创设失败情境,让大学生得到近赢结果,考察其耐挫心理、反事实思维和坚持行为。结果发现：反事实思维在耐挫心理和坚持行为间起部分中介作用。研究结果表明高耐挫大学生的学习活动中存在近赢效应;得到近赢结果后,大学生的耐挫心理通过反事实思维影响坚持行为。

关键词: 近赢, 失败, 坚持行为, 反事实思维, 耐挫心理

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.

都旭, 冯萌萌, 杨博茜, 康佳, 李健祥, 白学军. 失败不等于放弃：近赢结果增加高耐挫大学生后续坚持行为^*[J]. 心理科学, 2024, 47(1): 89-96.

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