Which encoding strategy increases memory capacity by grouping items into meaningful units?

Which encoding strategy increases memory capacity by grouping items into meaningful units?

• A. Chunking Groups Items Into Meaningful Units
• B. Spacing Retrieval Improves Long-Term Retention
• C. Elaborative Rehearsal Strengthens Memory
• D. Interference From New Learning Disrupts Old Information

Answer: (A)

Chunking groups items into meaningful units to boost memory capacity. By packing related bits into a single, meaningful block, your working memory treats each chunk as one unit rather than many separate items. This reduces the number of items you have to hold at once and creates stronger retrieval cues, allowing you to remember more overall. For example, turning a long digit string into familiar patterns or categorizing a grocery list into dairy, produce, and bakery makes it easier to store and recall. The other strategies focus on retention over time (spacing), deeper processing (elaborative rehearsal), or negative effects from new learning (interference), rather than expanding how much you can hold in the moment.

Chunking groups items into meaningful units to boost memory capacity. By packing related bits into a single, meaningful block, your working memory treats each chunk as one unit rather than many separate items. This reduces the number of items you have to hold at once and creates stronger retrieval cues, allowing you to remember more overall. For example, turning a long digit string into familiar patterns or categorizing a grocery list into dairy, produce, and bakery makes it easier to store and recall. The other strategies focus on retention over time (spacing), deeper processing (elaborative rehearsal), or negative effects from new learning (interference), rather than expanding how much you can hold in the moment.