7 Truths about Remembering

                                                

Here are 7 truths to show how people best retain information. It’s not like there are only seven truths about remembering, but well...the number seven has a role here.

A Research conducted in the 1950’s by a group of cognitive psychologists showed that seven, plus or minus two, is the maximum number of “things” we can remember at any one time. These truths enabling learners to do things like linking the new to the familiar, eliminating unnecessary content.

#1. Seven plus or Minus Two

The volume of new information we can “learn” in the short-term is pretty small: 7 +/ - 2: We can only remember 7 +/-2 things in our short-term memory. The less familiar the information the lower the ratio goes.

#2. Difference

Difference attracts attention; sameness loses it. We generally remember what stands out as DIFFERENT.

#3. Primacy and Recency

Primacy and recency matter. We generally remember the first thing we see or hear and the last thing we see or hear.  We need lots of primacy and recency to cement new facts.

#4. Emotional Connection

Connecting to people’s emotions can create meaning and memory. Lack of connection hinders our ability to remember.

#5. Visual Connection

A visual coupled with text is a strong memory builder... if the visuals are relevant and appropriate.

#6.  10 Minutes

People can only remember what they attend to. People’s attention on the SAME thing lasts a maximum of 10 minutes.

#7. Relevancy 

Including irrelevant information with relevant information reduces a person’s ability to remember ANY information.