The recency effect is a mental tendency to recall things such as arguments, ideas or items that happened recently. You remember items that you have just heard or read. If you had a recent argument, that’s what you will remember most than what has happened in the past. Your psychological information retention is determined by what was listed last.
It relies on short-term memory, which is usually a minimal memory. The information is in your mind briefly and covers everything, including anything that happened recently. The data is used instantly, and there is no time to modify it or even critic through overthinking.
Examples of Recency Effect
When someone gives their cell phone number to save it on the phone, you will listen as they dictate. In a few seconds, you will forget and can hardly say the names off-head.
When you read through a list of names for the people invited for an event, you will most likely recall the last ones.
Another example is listening to a waiter take you through the available special menus for the day. After the conversation, you can recall everything that you heard. You will remember outstanding words or simple meals.
Causes of Recency Effect
New info is still active in the memory, unlike somethihttps://essaygroom.com/communication-assignment-2/ng you read or heard way some time ago. It is the same way that right after class, you can easily remember what you have been taught. When you study or practice information, you can easily recall the information.
What Influences Recency Effect
- The Task
The attributes of the information will determine your recency effect. It can be complicated, making it hard to retain much or straightforward so that you can easily comprehend. It can be short or long. All these characteristics will determine the recency effect.
- The presentation
The way the information is shared can help or deter recency effects such as the mode of communication or the language used. For high success in short-term memory, the information should be accessible. If you can repeat it by reading over and over, or replay it, the retention is high.
- Period
The more time you have to rehearse or access information, the higher the retention. The duration between the learning and presentation influences the memory; the shorter the period, the better the short term memory.
- Distraction
If there are any distractions, your memory will be affected. The higher the concentration and focus, the higher the recency effect, but if some activities occur, the primary memory will fade. You will find yourself struggling to recall.
Recency Effect on Learning
The recency effect is critical in the learning process. Research has shown that learners recall what they studied in the beginning and the end. A lot of information reviewed in the middle is forgotten. To improve the recency effect as you study, here are some tips that you can use.
You have to concentrate on the most critical topics in the beginning and towards the end of the study session. You can use this time to study the complicated information and something new. The mid-session and be reserved for lighter topics or familiar subjects.
You can summarize all the information toward the so that you can retain nearly everything in the short-term memory.
Overcoming Recency Effect at to Workplace
At the workplace, the recency effect is felt in all departments. The most common is the human resource department, especially the recruitment function. Managers have to listen to many candidates during interviews or read through tons of resumes. Recency effects might misguide them to make the wrong decision since they forget much of the information.
Here are some tips you can use.
- Have a Standardized process
When there is a well-defined system for recruiting candidates, the HR managers can follow through and retain more information. You can use questionnaires and other pre-interview tools. This helps you to familiarize yourself with the candidates.
Eventually, when you meet the new people for the interview, you already know something about them. This will help you retain more data. For the final decision, you can have a well mapped out system to rank the candidates instead of relying on your memory.
- Take Notes
If you are interviewing or having discussions about the next new hires, you should take points to read again and remember things that are not in the short memory. It helps you to judge people fairly because you have all the information at hand.
In addition to referring to the notes, you should expedite any recruitment processes while your memory is still fresh. Recency effect wears off with time as new information replaces the others.
- Do not Overdo It
Recency effects may fail to help you if you are tired mentally tired. You should ask for assistance and delegate some of the tasks. It would help if you spaced out interviews, give yourself a break, and make the discussions engaging.
Conclusions
The recency effect is useful in many ways in our day to day activities. You can look for ways to enhance and make it better because this is the primary or active memory that you have to use most of the time. The nest thing is that this memory is not manipulated as you act on it almost instantly. There is no time to look for another person’s opinion because this information lasts for about 30 seconds before you can react to it.
The best thing is that you can use some ideas to maximize your memory. They help, especially in school and allow you to focus on essential things. It will help improve your life as a whole and apply in your daily activities.