I know this is about TXF but I thought this was an interesting piece which possibly has some relevance to Strictly.


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/...cts-votes.html

Yep, makes sense to me.

The primacy/recency effect is a well known phenomena in psychology.

Early isn't usually good but the study doesn't mean much because the people who go on first seem very often to be in the category of "someone good who will start the show well" or "the best one there who really has to go first once to make it look fair" The last one's on are "the best on the night to end with a high " or "very nearly the best but the best one has been on last too often".

There's also the put the hopeless but entertaining for other reasons one on last option for when all the best people have been on last too much.

The song performed 2nd on Eurovision has never won

That's definitely true. And slightly off topic, but the primacy-recency effect also has a lot of bearing on impression formation in people. The primacy bias states that first impressions (first or second hand) have much greater bearing for the observer than people realise. Maybe that's why it's so hard to change viewers opinions of some contestants once they've formed it?

Yes but does it really matter when it is four dancers left?
I don't think it makes a difference now. Plus they all have loyal fan bases build up by now.

Depends what they do with them. Some shows put the finalists on in order of SF votes so its no surprise that the one on last wins too often for chance. Some just mix the sexes if there are 3 or 4 .

There is no doubt running order is crucial in many competitions. On Saturday I am sure if Chris had not danced first he would have got slightly higher marks. First couple on and the judges are usually more conservative.

Surely Anton must go first this week? as he and Laila have not all season

LOL, someone else who knows that random fact! No one dressed entirely in blue has ever won either.

Should on this programme doesn't mean they will though- it will be down to the dances I think- so the two samba's will have to be split in the latin round and this will affect the running order.

Its definitely not fair though if its any other way

By the looks of it these results run contrary to the primacy recency-effect, which would suggest that it would be the performers in the middle of the order who would be least remembered, not those 2/12 or 3/10 (in the case of the cited examples). Although of course there might be reasons why you'd remember an act and not vote for it (I still remember Rosie Robbins slaughtering "The Winner Takes It All" far more than any other performance from Pop Idol)

Actually, because the results run contrary to the primacy-recency effect, it rather does suggest that the producers dump forgettable acts or those with low fan-bases in early slots. The fact that audiances grow as the show goes on would possibly also have an effect.

I'm not surprised, for the last 10 years there have been so many acts that the song performed 2nd has been sung shortly after lunchtime, before I even switch on!

Why have the guys been on first in the last two weeks

It should be

Ali on first
Laila on second
Ricky on thrid
Chris on fourth

Afternoon Footygirl- the reason that Laila should go first is because she has never been first in the entire series- or even nearly first- so if its girls first fine but Laila one and Ali two

I hope Apricot won't mind me borrowing her post:


I'd say Laila first, Chris last, and then the other two can fight it out.

(Not that it matters as much now there are 2 dances each and the running order is reversed...)

As the legendary Asda greeters say zan "Happy to Help".