Improved Recall

Definition

Improved recall refers to the phenomenon where individuals have a better ability to remember items that are presented at the end of a list compared to those in the middle or at the beginning. This is known as the recency effect.

Related terms

Primacy Effect:

The primacy effect is the opposite of improved recall. It refers to our tendency to better remember items presented at the beginning of a list due to increased rehearsal and encoding time.

Serial Position Curve: The serial position curve graphically represents how well we remember items from different positions in a list, with improved recall being highest for items at the end.

Working Memory Capacity:

Working memory capacity plays a role in improved recall. Individuals with higher working memory capacity may have an advantage in remembering more items from the end of a list compared to those with lower working memory capacity.