The serial-position effect refers to the finding that items (e.g. word, picture or action) that are located either at the beginning (primacy effect) or end (recency effect) of a list are more easily remembered (Ebbinghaus, 1913). These effects have also been extensively studied in social psychology. Research on persuasion, for example, has found primacy effects to be stronger when the issue in a message is relevant or familiar to individuals, and recency effect more likely to occur when the issue is less relevant or familiar to them (Haugtvedt & Wegener, 1994; Lana, 1961).
The serial-position effect should not be confused with more general order effects, which refers to context effects produced by the order of items, such as questions in a research instrument.
Ebbinghaus, H. (1913). On memory: A contribution to experimental psychology. New York, NY: Teachers College.
Haugtvedt, C. P., & Wegener, D. T. (1994). Message order effects in persuasion: An attitude strength perspective. Journal of Consumer Research, 21(1), 205-218.
Lana, R. E. (1961). Familiarity and the order of presentation of persuasive communications. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62(3), 573-577.