Titles, not only serve as a retrieval cue, suggest knowledge structures on organizing the text which would be beneficial for free recall

Further explanation on title’s effects on knowledge structures

Imagine you are presented with a large chunk of text, and the title reads: “respiratory system of whales”. If you have previous knowledge in this topic, then you would know that you could understand the text, and vice versa.

Example of titles indicating knowledge structures

- indicating prerequisite knowledge in order to understand the content
- clarifying ambiguous meanings in text that is abstract or metaphorical
- suggesting familiar knowledge structures which could help readers better understand the text

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- appear before the content
- distinguished from the text by having different typeface and placement
- often defines the major topic of the text 
- often its “scope” covers the entire text 

Characteristics of a Title

Lorch, R. F. (1989). Text-signaling devices and their effects on reading and memory processes. Educational psychology review, 1(3), 209-234.

Text-signaling devices and their effects on reading and memory processes

Potential effects of titles on reading processes

- thematic titles can be either a description of an event (e.g. history event) or of a procedure
- and can provide insights into the content

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