Which of the following should be most subject to serial position effects when recalling items from a list?

Prepare for the UWorld Behavioral Science Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and in-depth explanations. Master the exam and boost your confidence!

The correct choice highlights how serial position effects are influenced by factors such as familiarity and emotional connection. Serial position effects demonstrate that people tend to remember items at the beginning and the end of a list better than those in the middle. This is commonly referred to as the primacy effect for items at the beginning and the recency effect for those at the end.

In the context of toy objects, which are typically more concrete and relatable compared to abstract vocabulary words, participants are likely to find them easier to visualize and recall. This vivid imagery of toy objects engages different cognitive processes, potentially making the evaluation of the list items more straightforward and enjoyable, thereby amplifying the serial position effects.

While vocabulary words and familiarity may seem significant, the tangibility of the toy objects and the likelihood of them eliciting stronger memories means they are more likely to display marked serial position effects. Thus, listing the toy objects at the beginning and the end of a sequence will lead to greater recall due to these robust memory processes.

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