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The cover of the Toastmaster magazine features a man in a red jacket speaking into a microphone, with the title "Sabyasachi Sengupta 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking" prominently displayed.
The cover of the Toastmaster magazine features a man in a red jacket speaking into a microphone, with the title "Sabyasachi Sengupta 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking" prominently displayed.

November 2025 View PDF

Serial Position Effect in Action

To test the serial position effect yourself, read this list of items aloud to someone:

  • Speaker
  • Chairs
  • Lectern
  • Microphone
  • Charts
  • Applause

Now, ask them to repeat the terms back to you. If “speaker” came quickly, they were influenced by primacy. If “applause” came easily, that was recency at work.

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