Development and validation of a self-report measure of environmental spatial strategies

Self-report measures can contribute to explaining individual differences in environmental spatial cognition. The development and validation of a German self-report measure of spatial orientation strategies is described. The factor structure of the self-report measure reflects different strategic aspects in spatial orientation. The "global-egocentric orientation" scale comprises indicators of general ability and egocentric strategies which are based on knowledge of directions and knowledge of routes. The "survey" scale comprises indicators of mental map formation. The "cardinal directions" scale comprises indicators of knowledge of cardinal directions. The scales predicted spatial learning in a real environment and showed incremental validity over relevant predictors of cognitive visual-spatial ability. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the dimensionality of the self-report measure.