Sense of direction, spatial orientation, and cognitive maps

Three experiments with 77 undergraduates studied sense of direction as a verbal expression of people's estimation of their own spatial orientation ability, rather than as a special mental faculty. Self-reports of sense of direction were shown to reflect spatial orientation ability. Ss with good senses of direction were better than ones with poor senses of direction at pointing to unseen goals (local buildings) in a familiar environment. In a novel environment (a maze) after minimal experience during which the need for orientation was not emphasized, good and poor sense-of-direction Ss did not differ in the accuracy of their mental representation of the area. Given additional exposure in which orientation was emphasized, good sense-of-direction Ss showed improved accuracy of their representation of the area, whereas poor sense-of-direction Ss showed no hint of improved performance. It is concluded, then, that the improved orientation of people with a good sense of direction is not automatic or facile, but requires possibly both (a) a conscious effort to orient and (b) repeated exposure to an environment. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).