Question

When trying to limit the information you present during a speech to enhance learning and retention, how many points should you strive for?

a.
Two to three

b.
Two to four

c.
Three to four

d.
Three to five

e.
Five

Answer 1

In a speech, it's best to concentrate on three to five main points to optimize audience learning and retention, according to contemporary research on memory capacity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When attempting to limit the information you present during a speech to enhance learning and retention, you should aim for three to five main points. This is in line with cognitive psychology findings on memory and processing, particularly George Miller's 'magic number' concept proposing a person can retain about 7 items (±2) in their short-term memory.

However, more recent research by Cowan in 2010 refined this to a working memory capacity of about 4 (±1). Considering this, when crafting a speech, focusing on a manageable number of points allows the audience to better absorb and recall the information.