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The 7+/-2 Urban Legend (2002)

by Derek M. Jones
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Abstract:

Kowledge of the workings of the human mind has moved on since Miller published his famous paper in 1956. However, perception of the 7+-2 urban legend as being a scientifically proved fact remains and it continues to be used to inform decisions on the maximum complexity of coding constructs. The purpose of this paper is to dispell the urban legend that has grown up around 7+-2. While no other rules, based on the workings of human memory, are yet available to replace it, people should at least stop taking false comfort from this bogus model

Citations

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