Head-Start Paradox in Long-Term Goal Pursuit: How Milestone-Based Reference Points Shape Persistence After Setbacks

This project hosts a working paper originally developed in 2020 on milestone-based goal pursuit and persistence following setbacks. The manuscript reports analyses based on longitudinal self-monitoring data from 12,439 users of the Boohee health application and two complementary laboratory experiments. The current upload provides a time-stamped public record of the theoretical framework, hypotheses, and empirical results on milestone-based goal pursuit and persistence following setbacks.