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

Robert F. Lorch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

231 Scopus citations

Abstract

Signals are writing devices that emphasize aspects of a text's content or structure without adding to the content of the the text. Findings are reviewed for studies of several different types of signaling devices, including: titles, headings, previews, overviews, summaries, typographical cues, recall sentences, number signals, importance indicators, and summary indicators. Most investigations have examined how the presence of signals in a text affects subsequent memory for the text. Virtually all types of signals produce better memory for information they cue in a text, whereas memory for unsignaled information often is unaffected. Less attention has been directed to signaling effects on other cognitive processes, such as attention, basic reading processes, and comprehension. It is argued that an understanding of how signals influence these processes will contribute to the application of signaling research to reading and writing instruction and to our general understanding of reading.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)209-234
Number of pages26
JournalEducational Psychology Review
Volume1
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1989

Keywords

  • reading
  • signals
  • writing devices
  • writing instructions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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