THE PERCEPTION OF TRAVERSED DISTANCE: INTERSECTIONS

Two experiments were performed to assess the effects of intersections on distance cognition in the urban environment. A laboratory study examined estimated traversed distances as a function of the number of intersections along linear pathways. A field study investigated the distance estimates of individuals contacted in a shopping mall in Scottsdale, Arizona, to two points located in opposite directions along a major street adjacent to the mall. Data from the laboratory study revealed a strong positive relationship between the number of intersections along a traversed linear pathway and the estimated length of that path. Significant differences in estimated distance as a function of the number of intersections were also observed in the results of the field study. The findings are discussed in relation to information processing/storage and pathway segmentation models. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00139165
• Corporate Authors:

  Sage Publications Limited

  28 Banner Street
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • Sadalla, E K
  • STAPLIN, L J
• Publication Date: 1980-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 167-182
• Serial:
  • Environment and Behavior
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0013-9165
  • EISSN: 1552-390X
  • Serial URL: http://eab.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data analysis; Distance; Estimating; Estimation theory; Intersections; Itinerary; Length; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Numbers; Pedestrians; Perception; Shopping centers; Transportation planning; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Old TRIS Terms: Segmentation
• ITRD Terms: 132: Forecast; 699: Itinerary; 455: Junction; 6488: Length; 6473: Mathematical model; 6432: Number; 1733: Pedestrian; 2229: Perception; 320: Shopping centre; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00329712
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM