In his 1980 book Image and Mind, Stephen Kosslyn writes:Examined memory capacity and retrieval speed for pictures and for words. Single-trial learning tasks were employed throughout with groups of 5 or 10 Ss, with memory performance assessed by forced-choice recognition, recall measures, or choice reaction-time tasks. Findings indicate that (a) memory capacity, as a function of the amount of material presented, followed a general power law with a characteristic exponent for each task; (b) pictorial material obeyed this power law and showed an overall superiority to verbal material; (c) when the recognition task was made harder by using more alternatives, memory capacity stayed constant and the superiority of pictures was maintained; (d) picture memory exceeded verbal in terms of verbal recall; comparable recognition-recall ratios were obtained for pictures, words, and nonsense syllables; and (e) verbal memory showed a higher retrieval speed than picture memory. Both types of material obeyed a power law, when reaction time was measured for various sizes of learning set, and both showed rapid rates of memory search. It is concluded that the superiority of the pictorial mode in recognition and free recall learning tasks is well established and cannot be attributed to methodological artifact. (29 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved)
So visual recall is probably better than 50%, and it's better than verbal memory (reading and hearing words)."The capacity of our visual memories is truly staggering; it is so large that it has yet to be estimated. . . . Perhaps the most staggering results are reported by Standing (1973) who showed some of his subjects 10,000 arbitrarily selected pictures for 5 seconds each. . . . His findings showed that there is no apparent upper bound on human memory for pictures. Moreover, with immediate recall, Standing estimated that if one million vivid pictures were shown, 986,300 would be recognized if one were tested immediately afterward; even after a delay, he estimates that 731,400 would be recalled."
zoobyshoe said:What is a "power law"?
The 10-90% rule, also known as the learning curve, states that people typically remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, and so on, up to 90% of what they do or experience.
While the 10-90% rule is a commonly cited concept, there is no scientific evidence to support its validity. In fact, research on memory and learning has shown that retention and recall can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, such as individual differences, context, and type of material being learned.
No, the 10-90% rule cannot be applied to all types of learning. Studies have shown that certain types of material, such as complex information or emotional experiences, can be remembered at higher percentages than those suggested by the rule. Additionally, the rule does not account for the impact of practice, repetition, and other learning strategies on memory retention.
While the 10-90% rule may not be scientifically valid, it can still be used as a general guideline for educators and trainers when designing learning experiences. It highlights the importance of active learning and hands-on experiences in promoting memory retention. However, it should not be relied upon as a strict rule for measuring learning outcomes.
Yes, there are alternative theories to the 10-90% rule, such as the multi-store model of memory and the levels of processing theory. These theories suggest that memory is a complex process influenced by various factors, and cannot be simplified into a single rule. Research in this area is ongoing, and there is no one definitive theory of memory and learning.