场认知方式、性别和惯用空间语对地理空间定向能力影响的实验研究

目前人们对空间定向能力影响因素的研究多关注性别与空间定向能力的关系,较少涉及场认知方式、惯用空间语等因素对空间定向能力的影响。本文以空间认知眼动实验的方式展开研究,通过国内版镶嵌图形测验（EFT）、问卷调查等途径获取被试的场认知方式、性别和惯用空间语等基本信息,使其在控制单一环境变量的虚拟三维空间中完成不同难度的定向任务。进而构建正确率和效率2个指标来衡量空间定向能力,通过统计分析确定空间定向能力的影响因素。研究结果表明：（1）不同场认知方式和不同惯用空间语人群的定向正确率和效率差异统计结果均不显著,场认知方式和惯用空间语对空间定向能力无显著影响;（2）不同性别人群之间定向效率无显著差异而正确率存在显著差异,性别对空间定向能力具有显著影响,男性的空间定向能力较女性更强。

Study on the Influence of Field Cognitive Style,Gender and Spatial Terminology on Geographical Spatial Orientation Ability: based on Experiments in Virtual Space

Nowadays, studies of factors influencing geographical spatial orientation ability mainly concentrate on gender whereas relationships of field cognitive style and spatial terminology with spatial orientation ability have rarely been studied. This study used eye tracking technology to explore the influences of the three individual variables on spatial orientation ability. 86 people participated in the experiments with an average age of 21 (SD=2.67). First, the test of embedded figures and a questionnaire survey were carried out to collect basic information of the participants including field cognitive style, gender and habitual spatial terminology. Next, the participants were asked to complete a series of spatial orientation missions of various complexity levels in a virtual 3-D environment. Through this process, participants’ eye movements were automatically recorded by eye tracker. Spatial orientation ability was assessed by both completed results and reaction time which represent orientation accuracy and efficiency, respectively. Statistical tests were applied to test the significance of differences among different groups. Results show that there is no significant difference in orientation accuracy and efficiency among participants with different field cognitive styles as well as those with different spatial terminologies. It is demonstrated that field cognitive style and spatial terminology have no significant influence on spatial orientation ability. Participants of different genders show a significant difference in orientation accuracy which indicates that gender difference have a significant influence on spatial orientation ability. Males outperform females in the orientation tasks.