Question

In receptive identification it is recommended that the array of items should:

A.Increase in size and become messier
B.Increase in size and be very organized
C.Stay between 4-6 items in a square or rectangular pattern
D.Stay between 3-5 items in a linear pattern

Answer 1

The array of items for a receptive identification task should stay between 3-5 items in a linear pattern, adhering to the research findings on working memory capacity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to receptive identification, which is a learning task often used in fields such as psychology and education. When setting up an array of items for this type of task, it is generally recommended to adhere to working memory capacity research. According to George Miller's research in 1956 and subsequent findings by Cowan in 2010, the capacity of short-term or working memory is limited. Miller proposed the “magic number” of 7 plus or minus 2, but Cowan suggested a more contemporary range of 4 plus or minus 1. Based on this information, the correct answer to the student's question is that the array of items should stay between 3-5 items in a linear pattern, as this aligns with the working memory capacity findings. Messily organizing them or increasing the number of items beyond the capacity of working memory could lead to lower effectiveness of the learning task.