Serial memory processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:47, 10 February 2023

Latest revision as of 05:57, 13 May 2024

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;Primacy and recency effects

In serial memory processing, [[Primacy effect]] and [[Recencyrecency effect]] effects for accuracy of recall are commonly found. These effects are found for both visual<ref name=Parmentier>Parmentier, F. B., Andres, P., Elford, G., & Jones, D. M. (2006). Organization of visuo-spatial serial memory: Interaction of temporal order with spatial and temporal grouping. ''Psychological Research, 70''(1).</ref> and auditory<ref name=Avons>Avons, S. E. (1998). Serial report and item recognition of novel visual patterns. ''British Journal of Psychology, 89''(1).</ref> stimuli in memory tasks. This means that of the many items in a memory set during serial memory processing, the first item and the last seem to be recalled faster and more accurately than the other items. These effects may exist if recall errors are due to serial position. It is theorized that items are mistaken for other items from a nearby position in the memory set (e.g. the 5th item is mistaken for the 4th item or the 6th item). Since there are more nearby serial positions to middle items in a set, there are therefore more opportunities for mixing-up items. On the other hand, there are very few serial positions nearby to the first and last position, and therefore these positions may be remembered more accurately (or mistaken less). The first and last position may be less error-prone positions and more easily recalled.<ref name=Naire>Nairne, J. S. (1992). The loss of positional certainty in long-term memory.''Psychological Science, 3''(3).</ref>

[[File:Graph_of_the_Primacy-Recency_Effects.jpeg|thumb|right|This graph, recreated from Nairne (1992), demonstrates the primacy and recency effects for recall of serial order. These effects are consistent regardless of memory set length.]]

The suffix effect is an effect that removes the recency effect by adding in a meaningless item at the end of the original memory set. The belief is that this meaningless item will be remembered instead of the second-to-last item which was originally remembered due to the recency effect. However, the suffix effect varies based on the similarity of the item to the set. For visual stimuli, adding in the meaningless item, whether or not it is visually similar to the original memory set, will remove the recency effect. For auditory stimuli, adding in the meaningless item will only remove the recency effect if it is phonologically similar. Adding an item that is phonologically different (e.g. A, Q) will not have this effect.<ref name=Parmienterr>Parmentier, F. B., Tremblay, S., & Jones, D. M. (2004). Exploring the suffix effect in serial visuospatial short-term memory. ''Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 11''(2).</ref>