Practical 1 - Recency effect (1)

Practical #1: The Recency Effect

Problem

  • Study the recency effect on short-term memory.

Introduction

  • Serial Position Effect: U-shaped pattern exhibited on a free recall task based on word position.

  • In a free recall task, participants recall 20+ words in any order after presentation.

  • Serial Position Curve: Performance as function of word position. (Mattin, 2005)

    • Primary Effect: Good recall for the first items due to long-term memory consolidation.

    • Recency Effect: Good recall for the last items due to short-term memory availability.

Purpose of the Study

  • Assess the recency effect through Serial Position.

Hypothesis

  • Recency effect is dominant in the recall ability of participants.

Method

  • Apparatus:

    • Paper, Pencil, Stopwatch, List of non-sense syllables.

Participant Information

  • Name: X.Y.Z

  • Age: 21 years

  • Gender: Female

Instructions to Participant

  1. Learn the list of non-sense syllables for 2 1/2 minutes.

  2. Write down the syllables in the same order after learning them.

Procedure

  • Participant learns a list of non-sense syllables for 2 1/2 minutes.

  • Participant writes out the memorized list in the same sequence presented.

Verbal Report of the Participant

  • Comfortable seating during the experiment; faced difficulty memorizing and recalling in order.

  • Enjoyed participation despite challenges in recall.

Results

  • Primary Effect: Participant recalled 2-3 syllables.

  • Recency Effect: Participant recalled a total of 9 syllables in the recency portion.

Conclusion

  • Concluded that recency effect significantly affects recall ability in the participant.

Table: Result of Words

  • Total Words to Recall: 16

    • Primary Words: 2

    • Middle Words: 0

    • Recency Words: 3

    • Time Taken: 35 seconds.