Persistence at a difficult task with alternative task of intermediate difficulty

60 male Ss were tested individually for persistence at an insoluble task presented to them as very difficult. They experienced repeated failure at the task but could turn to a similar task described as intermediate in difficulty whenever they wished. Differences in persistence at the initial task were examined between Ss high in n Achievement and low in Test Anxiety (HL) and Ss low in n Achievement and high in Test Anxiety (LH). Results show that: (a) persistence is positively related to initail estimates of probability of success (P_s) at the task for HL Ss (p <.005) but there is no relationship between persistence and initial estimates of P_s for LH Ss; (b) estimates of P_s tend to rise initially and then to fall following repeated failure (p <.05); (c) Ss who persisted at the initial task show a later preference for that task (p <.05). Results are discussed in terms of the "motive-expectancy-value" model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).