Functional Families of Spatial Abilities: Poor Relations and Rich Prospects

Abstract

The search for psychometric correlates of environmental learning and wayfinding has important implications for how we conceive of the structure of the spatial domain. Substantial progress has been made in determining relations between spatial abilities as assessed using psychometric tests and environmental learning as assessed in field experiments. However, future studies should seek to overcome some methodological shortcomings of past endeavors. In addition, advances toward a comprehensive understanding of the spatial domain may depend on a useful framework to guide empirical inquiry. The idea of functional families of spatial abilities is proposed as such a framework.