Primacy, recency and Murdock's serial position curve

Overview

The serial position effect, primacy and recency and how the multi-store model explains them, and Murdock's free recall study with its aim, method, findings and evaluation.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is the serial position effect?

   Model answer

   The serial position effect is the finding that recall of a list depends on where each item appeared. Items at the start and the end are recalled best.

2. 2

   What is the primacy effect?

   Model answer

   The primacy effect is the tendency to recall the first items in a list better than those in the middle.

3. 3

   What is the recency effect?

   Model answer

   The recency effect is the tendency to recall the last items in a list better than those in the middle.

4. 4

   Describe the shape of a serial position curve.

   Model answer

   A serial position curve is U-shaped. Recall is high for the first and last items in a list, but low for the middle ones.

5. 5

   How does the multi-store model explain the primacy effect?

   Model answer

   The first items in a list can be rehearsed more often than later ones. Extra rehearsal transfers them into long-term memory, so they are recalled well.

6. 6

   How does the multi-store model explain the recency effect?

   Model answer

   The last items in a list are still held in short-term memory when recall begins. Recall of these items can happen straight away, before they are lost.

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