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principles:miller_s_law

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Miller's Law

Variants and Alternative Names

Context

Principle Statement

Any list should not contain more than 7±2 items.

Description

Lists such as items in the main menu of a program or bullets on a presentation slide should be limited to 7±2 items.

Rationale

The human short-term memory is limited. Research shows that one can remember 7±2 chunks of information.

Strategies

  • Divide a long list into sub-lists adhering to the rule.

Caveats

Note that this principle is questioned.

See also section contrary principles.

Origin

Evidence

  • Examined: There is scientific research concerning the short-term memory1). But this does not apply to any aspect of design directly.
  • Accepted: The principle is widely stated as a (user interface) design rule.
  • :!: Questioned :!:: It is highly doubtful to directly making a limit for memorizing digits to a generally applicable design rule. There is no evidence suggesting a rule that a list should not be longer then 7±2 items2).

Relations to Other Principles

Generalizations

Specializations

Contrary Principles

Complementary Principles

  • More Is More Complex: This is a proposed design rule, which is not directly affected by the criticism of Miller's Law.

Principle Collections

Example

Description Status

Further Reading

principles/miller_s_law.1361803321.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013-05-19 22:20 (external edit)