In this experiment, the cognitive approach was investigated, focusing on the study of memory within it. Chunking, a technique used to extend short-term memory capacity was studied. Miller (1956) suggested that we can hold 7(2 pieces of information in our short-term memory, which lasts for approximately 10-30 seconds. However, the amount of information stored in each unit or “chunk” varies. He proposed that STM would improve if long strings of information can be chunked into sections so that more can be stored.
For example, the letters “m, e, m, o, r, y” can be chunked into the word “memory”, reducing the number of chunks from six to one. Information would be also easier to retain when put into units that have more meaning to people, ex. FBI, BBC, CIA, etc. Bower (1969) studied the difference in recall of the same words in 1, 2 and 3 word phrases. Results showed that organised material was learnt 2-3 times quicker than disorganised.
Disorganised material took longer because people need time to identify the relationships between the words, while this would be already presented to them in the organised material. This shows people have natural mechanisms to chunk information into units to increase their learning capacities and that chunking of information into an organised structure aids recall of information. Chase and Simon (1973) investigated the different chunking processes which novices and experts used in chess playing, building on Miller’s “magical number” 7(2.
They found that experts could identify relationships, like colour and proximity, between the pieces, creating chunks of 4-5 chess pieces. However, novices could only see each piece individually. This meant that while novices could only recall around 7 single-pieces, experts could recall up to 7 multi-piece chunks (more that 30 pieces in total). Therefore, chunking can greatly improve recall, and practice and development of skill levels also increase the ability to chunk information.
In a later study, Simon and Gilmartin, (1973) guest-estimated that “grandmasters” could hold 50,000 chunks of chess pieces in their memories. Gobet (1998) developed on this research on chess expertise, investigating the number and size of the chunks that they can hold in their memories. He found that while the sizes of chunks vary accordingly to players’ expertise, the average number of chunks that they could hold was 3 to 4.