Question

What is the average number of information bits that one can hold in short-term memory?

1) 10
2) 7
3) 14
4) 3

Answer 1

Short-term memory has a limited capacity, typically around 7 plus or minus 2 items. Recall is better for random numbers compared to random letters, and auditory information is easier to remember than visual information.

Step-by-step explanation:

Short-term memory has a limited capacity. In 1956, George Miller conducted a review of research and found that the average capacity of short-term memory is around 7 plus or minus 2 items. However, more recent research suggests that working memory capacity is 4 plus or minus 1.

Recall is generally better for random numbers compared to random letters, and auditory information is often easier to remember than visual information.