The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two
"The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two," a concept by psychologist George A. Miller, suggests that the average person can effectively hold about seven pieces of information in their short-term memory at once, plus or minus two. This means most people can manage between five and nine items, like numbers or words. For example, when trying to remember a phone number, we often break it into segments to make it easier. Understanding this limit can help improve learning techniques, organization, and communication by chunking information into manageable pieces.
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"The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two," by psychologist George A. Miller, explores the limits of human memory. He suggests that people can hold about seven items in their short-term memory at one time, give or take two. This limitation affects how we process information, learn, and recall facts. For example, when trying to remember a phone number or a list of items, organizing information into smaller groups (like chunks) can help. This framework illustrates why effective communication and teaching often involve breaking complex information into manageable pieces.