What technique involves grouping information to expand the capacity of short-term memory?

Chunking is a cognitive strategy that enables individuals to group information into larger, manageable units, thereby increasing the amount of information that can be held in short-term memory at one time. This technique takes advantage of how our brain organizes and stores information, allowing us to remember complex data by breaking it down into smaller, coherent blocks. For example, when trying to remember a long string of numbers, we often break it into chunks, like grouping the numbers into sections (e.g., 123-456-7890), which facilitates easier recall.

Using chunking effectively increases memory retention and makes it simpler to retrieve information later, especially when dealing with extensive data. Understanding this method is fundamental in enhancing memory skills, particularly in educational contexts where retaining large amounts of information may be necessary.