Question

Research has shown that short-term memory lasts from about ........... seconds without rehearsal.

• A. 12 to 30
• B. 8 to 10
• C. 5 to 8
• D. 3 to 5

Hint:

Remember two key numbers for short-term memory: capacity is the "Magic Number 7" (plus or minus 2) chunks of information, and duration is about 15-30 seconds without rehearsal. These are classic figures in psychology.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Core Question
This inquiry seeks to determine the time limit of short-term memory (STM) when maintenance rehearsal, the act of repeating information to retain it in STM, is inhibited.
Step 2: Evidentiary Basis
Pioneering research, notably the work by Lloyd and Margaret Peterson (1959), established that STM contents degrade swiftly without active rehearsal. Their experiment involved participants memorizing trigrams of three consonants and subsequently counting backward by threes to disrupt rehearsal. The findings indicated a precipitous decline in recall accuracy over brief intervals.
Consensus from this and related studies places the duration of short-term memory generally between 15 and 30 seconds. The range "12 to 30 seconds" offers the most precise and comprehensive approximation among the given choices.
Step 3: Definitive Conclusion
The most commonly referenced duration for short-term memory without rehearsal is approximately 12 to 30 seconds.