Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M9356

Serial Position Effect

Serial Position Effect
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Primacy effect: items at the beginning are remembered better. Recency effect: items at the end are remembered better. Middle dip: items in the middle are remembered worst.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Application of memory principles. Place important content at the beginning and end of information presentation to enhance memory.

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Serial position effect: When memorizing a series of items, people remember the beginning (primacy) and end (recency) best, and the middle worst. It is the combination of the primacy effect and the recency effect.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial-position_effectZH · Explicit
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