FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)The Learning ProcessMedium
During a ground lesson, an instructor verbally lists nine new radio frequencies and expects the student to recall all of them a few minutes later without writing them down. The student struggles to remember more than a handful. This difficulty is best explained by which characteristic of memory?
- AShort-term memory typically holds only about five to nine bits of information briefly
- BRote learning permanently prevents recall of sequential lists
- CSensory memory discards all information within one second
- DLong-term memory can store only five items at a time
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Short-term memory typically holds only about five to nine bits of information briefly
Short-term (working) memory has a limited capacity, commonly cited as about seven items (plus or minus two), and information fades quickly unless rehearsed or transferred to long-term memory. Nine unwritten frequencies exceed most people's short-term capacity.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Rote learning is a method, not a permanent memory blocker, so this statement is inaccurate.
- C. Sensory memory duration is extremely brief, but that's not the limiting factor here since the student heard and attended to the information.
- D. Long-term memory capacity is considered essentially unlimited, unlike short-term memory.
Short-Term Memory
The memory stage that holds a limited amount of information (about 5-9 items) for a short duration unless reinforced through rehearsal.
- Part of the memory model: sensory, short-term, long-term
- Capacity often cited as 7 ± 2 items
- Information is lost quickly without rehearsal or repetition
Memory trick: See it, Hold it briefly, Store it forever: Sensory → Short-term → Long-term