Online information retrieval with and without subheadings
T.L. Hood, L. Jorgensen · 2002
The study assessed the effects of headings in online information retrieval. In particular, it looks at single versus multiple (3) headings and text-character versus graphic-character based texts on a single display screen. Twenty participants read a single screen technical document formatted in each of four conditions: single and triple graphic headings and single and triple text headings. Multiple headings did not show improved retrieval times over single headings. However, text headings resulted in faster retrieval times than graphic headings. We conclude that content of headings serves an organizational function for the reader of online text.