Working Memory for the Star Wars fan

Some things we remember, but some things we don't.

From a list of words, people are more likely to remember the first few words ( known as the primacy effect) and the last few words (known as the recency effect) than the words in the middle. What might a 3-year-old remember from the plot of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope?

• Are the primacy and recency effects evident in her account?
• Which effects her account more (primacy or recency)?
• Why might she remember the name of the cute droid that can't talk, but not the name of "the shiny one?"
• Why does she recall certain events, but not others?

If you can't answer these questions because you don't remember the plot to the movie, please watch it again because, "it's an exciting movie."