Principles Wiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Miller's Law ======

===== Variants and Alternative Names =====


===== Context =====
/* fill in contexts here: */

===== 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 =====

  * The original source for 7±2 is this: George A. Miller: //[[http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/peterson/psy430s2001/Miller%20GA%20Magical%20Seven%20Psych%20Review%201955.pdf|The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information]]//
  * How this became a design rule is unknown.


===== Evidence =====
/* Comment out what is not applicable and explain the rest: */
/*  * [[wiki:Proposed]]*/

  * [[wiki:Examined]]: There is scientific research concerning the short-term memory((George A. Miller: //[[http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/peterson/psy430s2001/Miller%20GA%20Magical%20Seven%20Psych%20Review%201955.pdf|The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information]]//)). But this does not apply to any aspect of design directly.
  * [[wiki:Accepted]]: The principle is widely stated as a (user interface) design rule.
  * :!: [[wiki: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 items(([[http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0000U6&topic_id=1|The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Not relevant for design]])).


===== 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 =====
/* Choose one of the following and comment out the rest: */
[[wiki:Stub]]
/*[[wiki:Incomplete]]*/
/*[[wiki:Complete]]*/

===== Further Reading =====

  * [[wp>The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two]] 
  * [[wiki>SevenPlusOrMinusTwo]] 
  * [[wiki>SevenPlusOrMinusTwoDiscussion]] 
  * Derek M. Jones: //[[http://www.knosof.co.uk/cbook/misart.pdf|The 7±2 Urban Legend]]//