Abstract

This study examined how navigational strategies, map drawing and map reading skills may be related by gendered spatial perception performance. One hundred twenty-four U. S. undergraduates completed one of two versions of the Judgment of Line and Angle Position (JLAP; Collaer & Nelson, 2002) and the Water Level Test (WLT; Piaget, 1970). Findings revealed that gender differences in performance were eliminated when self-perceptions of map reading, map drawing, and navigational skills were used as covariates. Males used an orientation (cardinal) whereas females used a landmark way-finding strategy. The introduction of a fine-motor skill to solve the JLAP-15 eliminated the gender difference. The results suggest that spatial perception is in part influenced by map reading and way-finding strategies.

Cherney, I. D. , Brabec, C., & Runco, D. V. (2008). Mapping out spatial ability: Sex differences in way-finding navigation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 107, 747-760.