Locating Oneself on a Map in Relation to Person Qualities and Map Characteristics

Adults were taken to various positions on a college campus and asked to mark their locations on a round or square map drawn from either directly overhead or from an oblique angle. In session 1, participants were also given paper and pencil spatial tests to assess their skills in mental rotation (2D figure rotation), spatial visualization (paper folding), and spatial perception (water level). In session 2, participants completed computer-based navigation and mapping tasks. Performance varied widely among participants. Regression analyses showed that spatial skills predicted performance on both campus and computer mapping tasks, but the specific spatial skills that predicted success differed. Across map types, some differences in strategies and speed were observed. Findings show the value of research with both real and simulated environments, and with maps having varying cartographic properties.

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