Final answer:
The memory technique called chunking organizes data into manageable bits or chunks, improving short-term memory capacity. It is more effective than simple rehearsal as it meaningfully groups information for easier recall.
Step-by-step explanation:
Memory Technique: Chunking
The memory technique that groups similar or meaningful bits of information together to enhance the capacity of short-term memory is known as chunking. This strategy involves organizing information into manageable bits or chunks, which makes the information easier to remember. When you encounter data like phone numbers or dates, you can divide them into segments, like dividing a 10-digit phone number into segments using hyphens, to enhance recall. Chunking is a powerful memory-enhancing strategy that utilizes our natural tendency to group information, thereby increasing the amount of information that can be held in short-term memory. Unlike simple rehearsal, which may involve mere repetition, chunking offers a way to connect the information meaningfully.
For example, instead of trying to remember a sequence of numbers as '5205550467', remembering it as '520-555-0467' uses chunking to organize the numbers into smaller, more familiar groups. This grouping mirrors how our brain naturally organizes information and can greatly assist in memorization tasks.
Other memory strategies such as retrieval cues, encoding, and rehearsal are also crucial for transferring information from short-term to long-term memory, but it is chunking that specifically addresses the capacity of short-term memory by organizing information.