The serial position curve shows that when attempting to recall a list of items immediately after being exposed to them, ____.
A) all items are recalled at equal levels
B) the items at the beginning and the end of the list are better recalled than the items in the middle of the list
C) the items in the middle of the list are better recalled than the items at the beginning or the end of the list
D) the items at the beginning of the list are better recalled than the items in the middle of the list

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The serial position curve shows that the items at the beginning and the end of the list are better recalled than the items in the middle of the list, known as the primacy and recency effect. This suggests that people have better memory for items that they were exposed to first or last, while the items in the middle of the list are less distinct and harder to remember.

The Serial Position Curve Shows That When Attempting to Recall