Question
What is the difference between chunking and categorizing?
Answer
Chunking is the idea of putting items into groups of two or three, etc. For example, instead of trying to remember a string of 12 numbers, you can chunk them into groups: 1924, 1412, 2002. The numbers have been chunked into three groups of four. Categorizing refers to an association or relationship between items. Going shopping is a good example. If a person has a list of 12 items to purchase it may be helpful to categorize them by dairy products, meats, breads, etc. to help remember those items.
Sue Curfman has been in the field of healthcare for 30 years with experience across the continuum of care including acute hospital, inpatient rehab, home health, outpatient and skilled nursing. She is a speech pathologist by training and serves as the Assistant Vice President for Post Acute Services at Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, IL.
