Final answer:
The primacy effect is the observed phenomenon where individuals tend to recall earlier items in a list more accurately, as part of the serial position effect. Study methods such as repetition and mnemonic devices can improve memory retention, as can relating information to oneself through the self-reference effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect that demonstrates that earlier items are recalled more accurately when an individual is given a word list to memorize is known as the primacy effect. This is part of a broader concept known as serial position effect, where items at the beginning and end of a list are remembered better than those in the middle. The primacy effect relates to the tendency to remember the first few items because they had more opportunity to be encoded into long-term memory. In contrast, the recency effect relates to the tendency to remember the last items due to their fresher presence in short-term memory.
Hermann Ebbinghaus's research on memory, specifically the Forgetting Curve, showed that memory decays rapidly after learning, highlighting the importance of effective study and recall strategies for better memory retention. Repeating words aloud or using mnemonic devices can significantly improve memory by making the information more distinctive or meaningful. Additionally, the self-reference effect, where information is related personally, can enhance memory recall. Semantic encoding and the context in which information is learned also play crucial roles in recall.