Serial-Position Effect

The Serial-Position Effect Explained

If we are asked to recall the list of letters TBXLFNTSDK, chances are we would probably recall the first and last letters in the series, “T” and “K,” more accurately than the others. But why are we most likely to remember the first and last items in a list?

The tendency to recall the first and last items in a series is known as the serial-position effect. This effect may occur because we pay more attention to the first and last stimuli in a series. They serve as the boundaries for the other stimuli.

It may also be that the first items are likely to be rehearsed more frequently (repeated more times) than other items. The last items are likely to have been rehearsed most recently and hence are most likely to be retained in short-term memory.