matt123, they want you to give the correct answer. you know why they give you the details about K-mart? because they want a specific answer about why or why not the recency effect would or would not occur. otherwise, all questions would simply be "say what you know about the serial position effect" in psychology all the questions that involve such a scenario usually have a specific aspect about the theory that needs to be considered.
assuming you know the reasoning behind the serial position effect, you would know that the reason items at the end of the list are recalled best are because they are still in STM. unless you live in the bloody K-mart the items at the end of the list would not be in your STM.
do not just blab what you know about the question, it will not always pay off, least of all in specific scenario's. always read the question, and always apply your knowledge to the specific question at hand.
This is right and true and I dont disagree with you.
its very important to show "knowledge" of what they are asking.
However ...I have noticed with alot of these crappy papers , lisachem etc etc .. they always ask dumb questions and dont test your "knowledge" , rather they test a specific concept , such as the "serial position effect".... they are stupid questions , I know ....
I have seen ONLY one similar question on a vcaa paper... ( 2006/or 05 i believe) .. where you didn't apply "knowledge" , you had to just go with the flow and put down " at the beginning and at the end of the list" WHEN infact , the answer should have been "primacy effect" and only at the start of the list.
but they took both answers ...
The fact is , and you are 100% right.
always go with "knowledge" over , the question.
