A group of subjects hears a list of 15 words, after which there is a delay of 30 seconds before they are asked to recall the words. During this delay period, rehearsal is prevented. When asked for free recall of the words, which of the following will be affected the most?
A) recency effect
B) primacy effect
C) memory span
D) long-term memory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The primacy effect, which refers to the better recall of words presented at the beginning of a list, is thought to be supported by long-term memory processes and strategic rehearsal. Since rehearsal is prevented during the delay period, the primacy effect is likely to be most affected as these initial items will not have been sufficiently rehearsed and encoded into long-term memory. The recency effect, which refers to the better recall of words presented at the end of a list, may still be present as these items are still in short-term memory. Memory span and long-term memory may also be affected to some extent, but these effects are likely to be less pronounced than the impact on primacy.

A Group of Subjects Hears a List of 15 Words