What is the reasoning behind the death slot/pimp slot?
 

I know there is a general consensus that the death slot is the first slot and the pimp slot is the last.

But I was thinking...why? I get that it's to do with how we are more likely to forget the first acts, and more likely to remember the last acts.

That makes sense to an extent, but I'd think we're more likely to forget the middle acts. I always remember who the few acts to perform first were, and who the few acts to perform last were, the middle I never really remember.

Also, is there any proof behind this? Have acts in the death slots been voted out/bottom-twoed far more than acts in the pimp slots?

yeah, apparently it has been proven that earlier acts are more likely to b in the bottom than the later acts simply because they're not as fresh in your mind once the lines open

I've never understood it myself, though I don't doubt it's true.

When I watch X Factor I get all enthusiastic for the couple of acts, and it's the tail end of the show where I lose a bit of interest. The last one does perk me up - but I would have thought the middle few are the danger spots. But apparently this is not the case.

I think of it on the same basis as interviews.

The first one in, is the barometer upon which you will judge others. This can put you in either a very strong position or a very weak one.

Be last, and you will be the freshest in memory - but again, if it's a bad one - you're less likely to forget it was bad, so it's just as precarious.

That said, I do think that first and last are the 'better positions' as they will be the ones that have the most impact.