Exploring Cognitive Maps through Sketching

Melissa M. Nantais, The University of Western Ontario

Abstract

Abstract

Periodic testing has been found to improve the accuracy of participants’ cognitive maps when an onscreen map is provided, however, it is unclear whether the same results would occur without the onscreen map. The current study investigated whether drawing a map periodically while exploring the virtual environment Silcton would improve cognitive map accuracy. Participants explored Silcton and were stopped every 4 minutes to either sketch a map of Silcton, identify items seen in Silcton, or colour an unrelated picture, and a baseline group was not stopped. All groups drew a final sketch map and completed a direction estimation task. Results indicated that periodic testing using sketching led to significantly more accurate final sketch maps when compared to periodic testing using identified items but did not result in more accurate sketches across other groups or improved direction estimation scores. Accurate and inaccurate mappers demonstrated improved, but differing, accuracy across sketch development.