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Related Concept Videos

Serial Position Effect01:03

Serial Position Effect

The serial position effect is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals are more likely to recall the first and last items in a list compared to those in the middle. This effect is divided into the primacy effect and the recency effect. The primacy effect is observed when the initial items in a list are remembered better. This occurs because these items are rehearsed more frequently or receive more elaborative processing, allowing them to be encoded into long-term memory more effectively. For...
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Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory

Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of information more...
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Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
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Elaborative rehearsal is a crucial cognitive strategy that strengthens information encoding in long-term memory by making meaningful connections between new data and pre-existing knowledge. This approach contrasts with maintenance rehearsal, which involves simple repetition without delving into the significance of the information. While maintenance rehearsal might temporarily keep information active in short-term memory, it is less effective for long-term retention.
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Chunking01:12

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Acronyms
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
06:48

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: June 25, 2019

Backward recall and the word length effect.

Aimée M Surprenant1, Mark A Brown, Annie Jalbert

  • 1Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. asurpren@mun.ca

The American Journal of Psychology
|April 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The word length effect in memory is weaker for backward recall than forward recall. This challenges existing models of immediate memory and serial recall, suggesting recall direction impacts how word length influences memory performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology

Background:

  • The word length effect, where shorter words are recalled better than longer words, is a key finding in serial recall.
  • This effect is crucial for developing accurate models of immediate memory.
  • Previous research indicated the word length effect disappears during backward serial recall.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate and extend findings on the word length effect in backward serial recall.
  • To investigate the impact of foreknowledge and practice on recall direction.
  • To test the robustness of the word length effect across different recall orders.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted manipulating recall direction.
  • Experiment 1 varied participants' foreknowledge of recall direction (forward vs. backward).
  • Experiment 2 used blocked recall to provide repeated practice with a specific direction.

Main Results:

  • A significant word length effect was observed in forward recall in both experiments.
  • The word length effect was absent in backward recall, regardless of foreknowledge or practice.
  • These results challenge existing serial recall models.

Conclusions:

  • Recall direction critically influences the word length effect.
  • Current models with a priori explanations for the word length effect are insufficient.
  • The Scale-Independent Memory, Perception, and Learning (SIMPLE) model can account for findings but does not predict them.