What phenomenon describes the tendency to recall the first and last items in a series more easily?

The phenomenon that describes the tendency to recall the first and last items in a series more easily is known as the serial-position effect. This concept underscores the cognitive bias that occurs during memory recall, where items presented at the beginning (primacy effect) and the end (recency effect) of a list are more readily remembered than those presented in the middle.

The primacy effect refers specifically to the enhanced recall of the first items due to their entry into long-term memory, while the recency effect highlights the ability to remember the last items, often because they are still in short-term memory. Together, these two effects create the overall serial-position effect, which illustrates how the position of an item within a sequence can influence recall. Understanding this effect is essential in studying memory processes and improving recall in various contexts, such as education and cognitive psychology.