Regular Article
THE RELATIONS AMONG WAYFINDING STRATEGY USE, SENSE OF DIRECTION, SEX, FAMILIARITY, AND WAYFINDING ABILITY

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Abstract

Wayfinding ability was studied in reference to sense of direction (SOD), familiarity with the environment, reported wayfinding strategy use, and sex. A questionnaire, administered to 196 psychology undergraduates, included a SOD scale, a wayfinding strategy scale that measures use of survey and route navigation strategies, and questions regarding familiarity with the environment. Of these students, 94 also completed a mental wayfinding task in which directions for a route from one location on the campus to another were read and mentally followed. At the final location of the route, participants identified the direction of origin of the route. Regression analyses revealed that response latency was predicted by SOD and accuracy was predicted by sex and familiarity.

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