- The authors designed an experiment to directly test which hypothesis is correct by manipulating which mechanism (linear or structure) participants use to encode text
- The result shows that the participants encode text linearly when no headings are present, so headings improve recall by changing their text processing mechanism to structure strategy 

The experiment shows that strategy selection hypothesis is more reliable

Headings could encourage readers to use structure strategy when processing text, thus resulting in a better recall 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Strategy Selection Hypothesis 
- Strategy Implementation Hypothesis

Two hypotheses on how headings would affect readers’ selection of a text processing strategy 

Sanchez, Rebecca Polley ; Lorch, Elizabeth Pugzles ; Lorch, Robert F. (n.d.). Effects of Headings on Text Processing Strategies. Contemporary educational psychology. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Inc.

Effects of Headings on Text Processing Strategies

Strategy Selection Hypothesis 

- Regardless of the presence of headings, adult readers use structure strategy to process text. 
- Headings could help make the text structure clearer for the readers, thus improving recall

Learn Before

Related

Learn After