Now that we have your attention: Optimising educational technology article titles for impact

Abstract

The titles of academic research articles are an increasingly important part of academic publishing, as they have an influence on findability and potential citations, which in turn are the currency of academic impact. However, crafting a strong impactful title for your article is not easy and involves considerable skill and effort. In this editorial, we explore what the research tells us about different key characteristics of article titles and their impact on citations and discoverability. Although the findings are not conclusive, and there are discipline-specific factors involved, we identify key elements that contribute to a potentially impactful title for educational technology-focused papers, including clarity over cleverness, that keywords matter, and the importance of balancing specificity with readability. The concepts and recommendations discussed in this editorial may help you craft a strong title for your next research publication. Your title should not be a laughing matter, nor a rushed afterthought, as it can significantly contribute to making your research visible and engaging to your peers.