Question

Jamal is trying to buy something over the phone. He asks his partner to read him his credit card number. However, when he tries to repeat it to the sales clerk on the other end of the line, he can’t remember all the numbers. Jamal is coming up against _________. * 1 point

Answer 1

Jamal is coming up against George Miller's magic number 7, plus or minus 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

It was George Miller who first produced the idea that our short term memory is capable of holding from 5 to 9 items (that's why 7 plus or minus 2). According to Miller, short term memory has a limited capacity of around 7 slots, each capable of holding a "chunk" of information. It also has a very limited duration - from 15 to 30 seconds only. When Jamal tries to repeat all the numbers of his credit card, he is coming up against this magic number of around 7 slots.