Answer :
Final answer:
A human being can manage 7, plus or minus 2, pieces of information in short-term memory at once. This finding by cognitive psychologist George Miller in 1956 is known as the "magic number" and remains a crucial reference point in understanding short-term memory capacity.
Explanation:
The correct answer to how many pieces of information a human being can actively manage in short-term memory at once is C. 7, plus or minus 2. George Miller, a renowned cognitive psychologist, established this range in 1956, which is often referred to as the "magic number" in short-term memory. Despite more recent findings suggesting a slightly lower range, Miller's research is widely accepted and historically significant.
In practical terms, this means that on average, individuals can remember about seven discrete pieces of information at any given time, though this can vary by two in either direction leading to a range of between five and nine items. This understanding has influenced designs in various fields, an example being the 7-digit phone number system developed by Bell Labs in the 1950s to accommodate the average person's memory span.
C. 7, plus or minus 2
Step-by-step explanation:
The capacity of short-term memory is often estimated to be around 7 (plus or minus 2) pieces of information.
