Chunking

Psychological phenomenon of grouping information

Chunking is a process by which individual pieces of information are bound together into a meaningful whole. The phenomenon of chunking as a memory mechanism is often used to explain how information is processed by the brain. The term was first introduced by George A. Miller in his 1956 paper "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information".

Overview

Chunking is a strategy used to improve the amount of information that can be remembered. By grouping information into larger, more manageable units, individuals can enhance their short-term memory and working memory capacity. For example, a phone number sequence of 1234567890 can be chunked into 123-456-7890, making it easier to remember.

Applications

Chunking is widely used in various fields, including psychology, education, and computer science. In psychology, it is a fundamental concept in the study of cognitive psychology and memory. In education, chunking is used as a teaching strategy to help students learn and retain information more effectively. In computer science, chunking is applied in data processing and natural language processing.

Examples

• Phone Numbers: As mentioned, phone numbers are often chunked into smaller groups to make them easier to remember.
• Language Learning: When learning a new language, words and phrases are often chunked into categories such as greetings, food items, and common expressions.
• Reading: In reading, chunking can help improve comprehension by grouping words into meaningful phrases or sentences.

Related Concepts

• Cognitive load
• Information processing theory
• Memory span
• Serial position effect

See Also

• Short-term memory
• Working memory
• Cognitive psychology
• George A. Miller
• Information processing theory