Effects of Adding End Information on the Happiness Judgment

Diener et al. (2001) found that ending information influences life happiness ratings and suggested that peak-end rule and duration neglect exist in judgments of subjective well-being. However, their study allowed participants to contrast two scenarios with different ending information, which may have affected the results. The present study conducted direct replications manipulating ending information, using a between-participants factorial design (Study 1 and Study 2) and a within-participants factorial design (Study 3 and Study 4). The results showed that the previous findings were not replicated when the contrast of the ending information was unavailable but were replicated when the contrast was available. These results suggest that ending information can be used to judge happiness only when it becomes more salient. The requirements for the peak-end rule and the significance and difficulty of direct replication are herein discussed.