What method involves repeating items over and over to maintain them in short-term memory?

Maintenance rehearsal is the method that involves repeating items over and over to keep them active in short-term memory. This technique is primarily used to prevent information from being lost and to ensure that it remains accessible for immediate use. By continuously cycling through the information, a person can temporarily retain it, which is crucial for tasks like remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.

In contrast, implicit memory refers to knowledge that is acquired and used unconsciously, while heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb for problem-solving and decision-making. Iconic memory is a brief sensory memory for visual stimuli, lasting only a fraction of a second. Thus, maintenance rehearsal stands out as the method specifically designed to enhance the retention of information through repetition in short-term memory.