Depending on what you are looking at, the options will be different, but you will almost always have some options. Choices will be something like: Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, List, Details. The List view will just give you the names of the files. The Detail view will give you a list with details like the type of the file and when it was created. The various Icon views will make the icons smaller and or larger.

Options like this are often found in programs as well as in Windows itself. So it is good to check out the View menu to find the view you like.