The Primacy effect refers to people's tendency to pay more attention to information that is presented to them first (Passer, Smith, Atkinson, Mitchell, Muir: p.
507). A psychology class was divided into 2 groups and they were both presented with similar scenarios about a student named Jim. The first group's scenario began with Jim leaving his school alone and then buying a drink which he enjoyed alone sitting on a side table. He then met up with some friends and started talking. The second group read a similar scenario about Jim. Their scenario dealt with Jim walking with friends in the sun as he socialized with many acquaintances along the way.
When the sample audience was surveyed in the end, the primacy effect held true.Walking on the Shady Side: Remon Hanna - part of the sample audienceAn experiment was conducted in a first year psychology class to test and analyze data that is provided about the primacy effect. The primacy effect refers to our "tendency to attach more importance to the initial information that we learn about a person" (Passer, Smith, Atkinson, Mitchell, Muir: P. 507). These 'first impressions' can be overcome but they require a great deal of effort and time.
A lot of research has been conducted by psychologists and behaviorists regarding the subject of primacy-recency. Abraham S. Luchins, Edith H. Luchins and Linda Richter, Arie W. Kruglanski conducted two of those significant studies. Their experiments were tested how the primacy-recency effect is effected by the medium in which a message is delivered and how mental fatigue plays a role in impression formation respectively.
In the Abraham S. Luchins and Edith H. Luchins experiment, subjects were presented with extrovert and introvert behavior about a boy named Jim. In their study they found that "Generally speaking, primacy effects were found in the sense that response to a questionnaire about Jim tended to be influenced more by the earlier information" (Luchins and Luchins: p.12).
This would mean that the clear hypothesis in our experiment is that group B (L-Z) will find Jim a more pleasant and friendly person. The reason for this is that for group B Jim was seen with people first so they assume that he is a more pleasant and friendly person who is easy to talk to and get along with. Group A (A-K) will probably assume that Jim is a colder person who tends to be shy and more of a loner. They will not necessarily dislike him or view him as a bad person; they will just have a misconceived judgment of him.MethodThe experiment was set up in such a way that a relatively equal number of people were placed on two teams that were separated by last names (A-K, L-Z). The first group (A-K), which will be referred to as group A from here on, read a paragraph where a student named Jim left the classroom alone and then had some interactions with some acquaintances.
The second group (L-Z), which will be referred to as group B from here on, read the same paragraph about the same student but the order was reversed. Their version said that the student was with friends first and then carried out some errands alone. Both groups A and B were asked to rank Jim on how friendly, patient, warm, aggressive, and social they viewed him. Variables in this experiment were closely monitored. Group B was not allowed to read group A's article because it might alter their view. The groups were not allowed to interact so they would not contaminate each other with their opinions and inputs.
Once each student in the lecture has rated Jim, the facilitator collected the data in a systematic and organized manner. The independent variable in this experiment was the story that the students in the lecture read. The dependent variables were the results that were collected from the students as they were dependent on which story was read.The sample size for this experiment was 97-98 people. The reason to why this number varies is that the data was not collected properly. The participants were students who are all registered in a first year psychology course all ranging between the age of 17-21.
Group A consisted of 46 students and group B consisted of 51 to 52 students. There is some ambiguity to the size of group B because the data collected ranges from 51 to 52 responses.Students belonging to group A were asked to read an article about a student named Jim who left his classroom alone, then went on about his day carrying out some daily errands and met some acquaintances. Group B read the exact same story about the same student but in a reversed order.
Group B's story started out by having Jim leave with some friends and then carrying out some errands alone.The students in the lecture were all sitting down and comfortable. The lighting in the lecture hall was adequate. Both groups had enough time to read the story at a slow and comfortable pace. The story was put on an overhead projector in the front of the class on a projection screen.ResultsThe following tables show the percentage and average rating of responses from the test audience regarding how they viewed Jim.
Percentages and average ratings are the best way to depict this information because group B consisted of 51 to 52 students.
