A psychiatrist performing a mental exam shows a list of 10 unrelated images to the patient and asks the patient to memorize them. The exam continues and a few minutes later the psychiatrist requests that the patient describe as many images as he can recall. If most of the remembered images come from the beginning and end of the list, this is an example of:

The serial position effect

Explanation:

Serial-position effect

This is simply refered to as ways, pattern or method used by individuals in recalling items on a list, usually recall is best for items at the beginning or end of a list than for items in the middle.

Individuals with short term memory are very likely to remember pieces of informations from the beginning and end of a list.

Examples of serial position effect includes:

1. Recency Effect

In this type of serial-position effect, it is often best to recall items at the end of a list, than/then for items at the beginning, than/then for items in the middle of the list.

2. . Primacy Effect

This type of serial-position effect is characterized by the ability to recall is best for the first items on the list, than/then for at the end of the list, than/then for items in the middle of the list.