On Two Active-Reader Stimulants: Multiple Titles and Inverse Writing—Maximizing a Figure of Merit for Your Publication

Abstract

For a professional paper a figure of merit is defined on the basis of an assumed Markov chain of “yes!” and “no!” responses from the individual reader. With one initial probability (for the response to the title of the paper) and two constant transition probabilities, the average figure of merit for a reader population is calculated. For an “active” reader population—readers appreciating the inverse order, at sentence level, of conclusion before reasoning—the model suggests to maximize the initial probability. A triple title composed of spatially distributed answers to what-instrument, what-construction, and why-performance questions is recommended. Triple title and “inverse writing” together induce a constant level of appreciation during reading, at a maximum average figure of merit. Illustrative examples of a triple title and inverse writing are given.