Question

The magic number for the capacity of short-term memory seems to be ________, but this can be increased by using ______________.

a) 7±2 items; chunking
b) 5 items; maintenance rehearsal
c) 10 items; elaborative rehearsal
d) 3 items; visual imagery

Answer 1

The capacity of short-term memory is generally known as the magic number 7±2 items, and this can be increased through a technique known as chunking. the correct option is a) 7±2 items; chunking.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magic number for the capacity of short-term memory is 7±2 items, but this can be increased by using chunking. This finding comes from George Miller's classic 1956 paper, where he reviewed a variety of studies and concluded that the average short-term memory capacity tends to be 7 items, give or take 2. However, by organizing information into more manageable groupings or 'chunks', individuals can improve their short-term memory recall.

For example, rather than remembering a 10-digit phone number as individual numbers, one might remember it in chunks, such as the area code followed by two sets of four digits.

Additionally, memory can also be enhanced using other strategies like elaborative rehearsal, involving deep processing by linking new information with existing knowledge, and active rehearsal, where the repetition of information aids in transferring it to long-term memory.