Citation

Conning AM, Byrne RW. J. Environ. Psychol. 1984; 4(2): 165-175.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1016/S0272-4944(84)80032-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes a series of experiments which explore the extent to which children aged three years five months to four years seven months can build a Euclidean mental representation of the environment. It was found that the children showed a higher level of spatial competence than previous research had indicated, and that their spatial ability was dependent upon the nature of the environment. Euclidean knowledge was found at all ages in a familiar environment, but especially when familiarity was brought about through self-exploration. Euclidean knowledge was least likely in a novel environment. Previous experience with the test in the familiar environments did not lead to an increase in Euclidean knowledge in the novel environment. The results are interpreted in terms of Byrne's 'network-map'/'vectormap' theory of spatial knowledge.