MCAT® ExamCritical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsMedium
A participant in a psychological experiment is asked to recall a list of 20 unrelated words. They find it easiest to remember the first few words and the last few words on the list, while the words in the middle are much harder to recall. This phenomenon is best explained by which of the following?
- AProactive Interference
- BSerial Position Effect
- CRetroactive Interference
- DEncoding Specificity Principle
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Serial Position Effect
The serial position effect describes the tendency of a person to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst. It comprises two components: the primacy effect (better recall of initial items) and the recency effect (better recall of final items).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Proactive interference occurs when old memories interfere with the retrieval of new memories. (Incorrect)
- C. Retroactive interference occurs when new memories interfere with the retrieval of old memories. (Incorrect)
- D. The encoding specificity principle states that memory recall is best when the retrieval cues match the cues present during encoding. (Incorrect)
Serial Position Effect
The tendency of a person to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst.
- Comprises the primacy effect (first items) and recency effect (last items).
- Related to working memory capacity and long-term memory encoding.
- Often observed in tasks requiring recall of lists.
Memory trick: Memory has its 'positions' where items stick.