"Cat food, cola, toothpaste," your roommate begins reciting items into the phone as you throw your books in the backseat and get into your car; you're supposed to hit the store on the way home. He continues to list a few more items. Finally, he wraps up: "Coffee creamer, spaghetti sauce, dish liquid, and ice tea mix." You forget a couple of things, but you do manage to get the cat food, cola, and toothpaste. Your memory for these items reflects the _________ effect.
A)primacy
B)recency
C)serial memory
D)item order

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The primacy effect is demonstrated here, where you remember the first few items listed (cat food, cola, toothpaste) more effectively than those mentioned later. This effect is part of the serial position effect, which shows that people tend to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst.

"Cat Food, Cola, Toothpaste," Your Roommate Begins Reciting Items into the Phone