Newman, M. A. (1975). A developmental investigation of the priority effect. Developmental Psychology, 11(1), 106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0076119
Studied the priority effect in free-recall learning from a developmental standpoint using proper controls for serial position bias. Data from 160 preschool, 2nd-grade, 6th-grade, and adult Ss, which show the absence of the priority effect at the preschool level and the presence of it at elementary and adult levels, strengthen the position that the priority effect reflects the use of a relatively sophisticated learning strategy and that it is not a product of serial position bias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)