The Effect of the Pattern of the Environment on Spatial Knowledge Acquisition

Abstract

n the literature, there is a question as to whether or not survey (map-view) knowledge can be acquired from procedural (route) knowledge. Specifically, Thorndyke and Hayes-Roth (1982) contend that in a new environment, procedural knowledge is the basis for navigation, but that survey knowledge is acquired with increased familiarity of that environment. In contrast, Lloyd (1989) suggest that there is no transition from procedural to survey knowledge. This particular study (in progress) addresses the geographical behavior of wayfinding, and more specifically, explores spatial knowledge acquisition and representation. It proposes a model for spatial knowledge based upon previous studies, the pattern of the environment (gridded vs winding or serpentine), and the source of spatial knowledge (direct navigation experience vs maps) and it attempts to discover, through experimental research, the relative accuracy of peoples' configurational knowledge by investigating the roles that arrangement of the environment and source of spatial knowledge play in the acquisition of spatial knowledge.