Investigating Distance Knowledge Using Virtual Environments

Computer-simulated three-dimensional environments have become a popular tool in spatial cognition research. One way of demonstrating their usefulness is to replicate experimental results obtained in physical spaces. Two experiments investigated the role of environmental features in distance cognition, following Sadalla and Magel. Their participants explored routes marked with tape on the floor through active walking. Results showed that a higher number of turns along a route increased the estimated length of that route. In the authors’experiments, participants had to explore the routes in a desktop virtual environment. Experiment 1 employed ratio estimation and drawing methods and replicated Sadalla and Magel’s findings. Experiment 2 employed a reproduction method, and extends the results by showing that relative to physical distance, the route with fewer turns was underestimated, while the route with more turns was overestimated. The results show that desktop virtual environments are a valid and economic research tool.