Question 55

Students remembered 'table' and 'planet' due to the serial position effect.

The serial position effect explains why students recalled 'table' and 'planet' more effectively, as these items were likely positioned at the beginning and end of the list, respectively. This cognitive phenomenon indicates that items presented in these positions are remembered better than those in the middle.

A) the limits of sensory memory

This option is incorrect because sensory memory refers to the brief retention of sensory information. While it plays a role in initial perception, it does not account for the improved recall of items positioned at the start and end of the list.

B) the serial position effect

This option is correct as it describes the tendency for people to recall the first and last items in a list more effectively than those in the middle. 'Table' likely benefited from being at the start, while 'planet' benefited from being at the end, leading to their stronger recollection.

C) levels of processing

Levels of processing theory suggests that deeper semantic processing enhances memory retention. However, this does not specifically explain the enhanced recall of 'table' and 'planet' in relation to their positions in the list, making it less applicable in this context.

D) encoding specificity

This option is incorrect as encoding specificity refers to the idea that memory is improved when the context at encoding matches the context at retrieval. While context can influence memory, it does not specifically address the pattern of recall demonstrated by the serial position effect.

Conclusion

The serial position effect is the definitive explanation for why 'table' and 'planet' were remembered more effectively by the students, as their positions in the list facilitated better recall. In contrast, the other options do not adequately address the specific memory phenomenon at play here, highlighting the importance of list position in memory recall.