In this paper, electron paramagnetic resonance, photoluminescence ͑PL͒ emission, and quantum mechanical calculations were used to observe and understand the structural order-disorder of CaTiO 3 , paying special attention to the role of oxygen vacancy. The PL phenomenon at room temperature of CaTiO 3 is directly influenced by the presence of oxygen vacancies that yield structural order-disorder. These oxygen vacancies bonded at Ti and/or Ca induce new electronic states inside the band gap. Ordered and disordered CaTiO 3 was obtained by the polymeric precursor method.