People can hold approximately seven items in their working memory.
Miller’s Law is a psychological principle suggesting that the average person can hold about seven items (plus or minus two) in their working memory. This concept emphasises the importance of chunking, or grouping information into meaningful units, to enhance memory and understanding.
Background
Conceived in 1956 by American psychologist George Miller, Miller’s Law has become a foundational concept in cognitive psychology. Miller was particularly interested in our “working memory” and how we juggle multiple bits of information to make decisions.
Millers Law Design Example
Streaming sites like Netflix adhere to Miller’s Law by presenting menu options in chunks. Each menu and carousel on the homepage is presented as a separate chunk, offering around six options. Similarly, eBay structures its homepage galleries and item displays to minimise cognitive load, ensuring that users are not overwhelmed by too many choices at once.
Design takeaways
- Chunking is Key: Group related information together to make it more digestible.
- Minimise Choices: Avoid overwhelming users with too many options at once.
- Prioritise Readability: Ensure content is clear and easy to understand.
- Reduce Cognitive Load: Remove unnecessary elements and tasks to prevent information overload.
- Consistency is Crucial: Use consistent design patterns to make navigation intuitive.
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