Using Eye Tracking to Explore Differences in Map-Based Spatial Ability between Geographers and Non-Geographers

Weihua Dong,Bing Liu,Liangyu Zheng,Liqiu Meng

doi:10.3390/ijgi7090337

Abstract

In this article, we use eye-tracking methods to analyze the differences in spatial ability between geographers and non-geographers regarding topographic maps, as reflected in the following three aspects: map-based spatial localization, map-based spatial orientation, and map-based spatial visualization. We recruited 32 students from Beijing Normal University (BNU) and divided them into groups of geographers and non-geographers based on their major. In terms of their spatial localization ability, geographers had shorter response times, higher fixation frequencies, and fewer saccades than non-geographers, and the differences were significant. For their spatial orientation ability, compared to non-geographers, geographers had significantly lower response times, lower fixation counts and fewer saccades as well as significantly higher fixation frequencies. In terms of their spatial visualization ability, geographers’ response times were significantly shorter than those of non-geographers, but there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of fixation count, fixation frequency or saccade count. We also found that compared to geographers, non-geographers usually spent more time completing these tasks. The results of this study are helpful in improving the map-based spatial ability of users of topographic maps.

Highlights

Spatial ability, as derived from the cognitive map concept introduced by the American cognitive psychologist Tolman, is defined as “the ability of perceiving, learning, remembering, reasoning, and transmitting spatial information” [1]
The components of spatial ability include spatial localization, spatial orientation and spatial visualization, which affect the initial assessment of a map, previous experience and memory, and the processes of acquiring knowledge of the relative positions, dependencies, and laws of change in things and phenomena in the physical world [3], especially in geography
Spatial localization has been defined as “the ability to orient oneself with respect to local, relational, or global frames of reference”; spatial orientation has been defined as “the ability to visualize how to view the structure of the same area from different perspectives”; and spatial visualization has been defined as “the ability to make two-dimensional or three-dimensional changes such as the rotation, twisting, and turning of space objects through imagination” [3]

Summary

Introduction

As derived from the cognitive map concept introduced by the American cognitive psychologist Tolman, is defined as “the ability of perceiving, learning, remembering, reasoning, and transmitting spatial information” [1]. The components of spatial ability include spatial localization, spatial orientation and spatial visualization, which affect the initial assessment of a map, previous experience and memory, and the processes of acquiring knowledge of the relative positions, dependencies, and laws of change in things and phenomena in the physical world [3], especially in geography. In the Chinese “Super Brain” program, the Contours Identify Mountains project, designed by Dong et al requires the participant to recognize and locate a point on a contour map based on photos of the Lushan Mountain. This project is considered as a typical task that reflects the importance of spatial ability and has helped to draw the public’s attention to such abilities (http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2017/4/372990.shtm). Geographers perform better and faster at the task of determining the shortest distance between two locations [14]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion