In a series
of memory experiments, these researchers demonstrated
that with sufficient rehearsal people automatize what they have
learned so that what was originally a number of discrete items
become one single chunk of information. With what is referred
to as overlearning, the limitations of working memory can be
overcome. The notion of chunking information in order to make
it possible for people to remember collections of more than
five things has become quite prevalent in the information processing
literature (see Anderson, 1983). And rehearsal strategies
intended to induce chunking became part of the standard repertoire
of tools used by instructional designers.