Miller’s Seven, formally known as Miller’s Law, is a classic theory in cognitive psychology that was proposed by psychologist George A. Miller in his influential 1956 paper, “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information.” This theory posits that the number of objects an average human can hold in working memory is about seven, give or take two, which explains why many human memory systems, such as telephone numbers and lists, often come in chunks of about seven items.
Miller’s theory emerged from his observations and experiments on the capacity of memory and attention. His research suggested that short-term memory could typically hold only 7 (plus or minus 2) pieces of information at once. This finding was groundbreaking because it quantified the limits of mental capacity and provided a guideline for the amount of information that could be processed at any one time without overwhelming the mind.
The concept of “chunking” is central to Miller’s Law. Chunking is the process by which individual pieces of information are bound together into a meaningful whole. This method is used to enhance memory retention by reducing the cognitive load involved in recalling larger quantities of information. For instance, a phone number is easier to remember when divided into chunks (e.g., 555-123-4567) rather than as a continuous string of numbers (5551234567).
Miller’s insights have had a profound impact on various fields beyond psychology, influencing areas such as user interface design, where understanding the limitations of human memory can guide the organization of information. It also affects educational strategies, where chunking material into digestible pieces can enhance learning and retention.
While later research has suggested that the capacity of working memory might be more flexible than Miller’s initial “seven plus or minus two” rule, the principle of limited capacity and the effectiveness of chunking have remained influential in understanding cognitive processes and designing systems that align with human cognitive limitations.
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