Question

In the context of memory, what is the ‘serial position effect’?

• A. The tendency to recall items better when they are presented in a sequence
• B. The improved recall of items at the beginning and end of a list
• C. The interference of new information with old memories
• D. The enhancement of memory through repetition

Hint:

The serial position effect demonstrates that we remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle ones.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The serial position effect refers to the tendency to recall the first (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) items in a list more easily than those in the middle. This occurs because the items at the beginning of a list are rehearsed more, and the items at the end are still fresh in the short-term memory.
- The tendency to recall items better when they are presented in a sequence (A) is a general description of memory but does not specify the effect on the beginning and end of a list.
- The interference of new information with old memories (C) refers to the concept of interference in memory, not the serial position effect.
- The enhancement of memory through repetition (D) refers to rehearsal and practice, but this is not the serial position effect.
Thus, the correct answer is (B).