Serial memory processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:55, 9 April 2012

Revision as of 17:59, 9 April 2012

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;Primacy and recency effects

In serial memory processing, [[Primacy effect]] and [[Recency effect]] effects for accuracy of recall are commonly found. These effects are found for both visual and<ref auditoryname=Parmentier stimuli/> inand memory tasks.auditory <ref name=ParmentierAvons /> stimuli in memory tasks. These effects may exist if recall errors are due to serial position. There are more nearby serial positions to middle items in a set, and therefore more opportunities for mix-up. 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. The first and last position may be less error-prone positions and more easily recalled. <ref name=Naire />

The suffix effect, is an effect that removes the recency effect, simply by adding in a meaningless item at the end of the original memory set. 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 />