Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses
Date of Award
Winter 4-6-2017
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Jennifer Sutton
Abstract
Spatial activities during childhood and adolescence are believed to play a role in the development of spatial cognitive abilities. The current study investigated the relationship between spatial activities, way-finding strategy preferences, and spatial anxiety in a sample of 89 female undergraduate students from Brescia University College. Participants completed four online questionnaires addressing childhood spatial activities, adolescent spatial activities, spatial anxiety, and way-finding strategy. Individuals who reported more participation in childhood and adolescent activities reported using a cognitive map way-finding strategy, but the amount of participation in spatial activities reported by an individual did not relate to their use of a route way-finding strategy. No relationship was found between spatial anxiety and other factors. The relationship between spatial activities and way-finding strategies suggests that the development of spatial abilities is dependent on experience.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Megan E., "The Relationship Between Way-Finding Strategies, Spatial Anxiety, and Prior Experiences" (2017). Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses. 9.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brescia_psych_uht/9