Chunking is a process of splitting information into smaller pieces, or “chunks” of information. The chunking process makes reading and comprehension easier and faster. It is especially useful for readers who are scanning a longer document for specific information, avoiding reading the entire set of text for a single, more specific concept or idea.
Chunking provides a consistent presentation of content between sections and pages, allowing users to quickly become familiar with the layout. This improves readability and comprehension because users can concentrate on the content instead of having to repeatedly relearn how to navigate the document.
Chunked content provides several conceptual and visual cues to assist the reader:
- Small lists, either bulleted or numbered, with sub-lists as necessary
- Consistent, visually-distinct headings and subheadings
- Single-concept sentences
- Small, specific paragraphs
- Textual highlights of relevant concepts and phrases, such as bolded terms
- Judicious use of images or graphics that convey ideas and concepts more efficiently than words
Chunking is particularly useful because people can understand and remember a limited number of items of information at one time. That number is known as the “chunk limit,” and is generally agreed to be seven items. As information complexity increases, the chunk limit decreases. For this reason, when chunking, content authors can improve the memorization of the content by chunking information into this number of pieces (or fewer).
Chunking makes content more accessible and easier to comprehend, making the transfer of knowledge quicker and more efficient. Readers can find the necessary information more easily. Chunking also makes content easier to read and understand by using a consistent and predictable layout for the user.
