A Study on the Capacity of STM

Instructions You will need a pen and scrap paper Allow the presentation to roll through without pause You will see a series of numbers on the screen and you will have a few seconds to read them, for example, 5 6 2 8 7 As soon as you see this instruction, “write numbers”, write as many numbers as you can remember in the order that you read them. You will be given an opportunity to check if you were correct A practice session will begin in 10 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds Practice 3 8 9 2 4 write numbers Check your answers The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 2 9 6 write numbers Check your answers 2 9 6 The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 5 3 7 4 write numbers Check your answers The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 2 9 3 8 6 write numbers Check your answers The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 3 7 9 5 4 8 write numbers Check your answers 3 7 9 5 4 8 The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 7 4 8 3 9 2 6 write numbers Check your answers The next test will start in 5 seconds

The next test will start in 5 seconds 9 1 4 7 8 6 3 2 write numbers Check your answers The next test will start in 5 seconds

Test Finished. wait for next slide 4 7 9 5 6 3 1 8 2 write numbers Check your answers Test Finished. wait for next slide

Debriefing What was the longest series of numbers you could remember? If you could remember 7, this is about average. Miller suggests that most humans can remember 7 plus or minus 2, so if you could only remember 5 or could remember 9, that is quite normal. Can you think of any flaws of this study?