Recall Memory for Topographic Maps and Natural Terrain: Effects of Experience and Task Performance

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to examine the recall of information from natural landscapes and topographic maps. In Experiment 1, the nature of information recalled from photos of landscape scenes by experienced and novice topographic-map readers was influenced by the performance of a map-matching task, but did not vary much as a function of experience with topographic maps. In Experiment 2, the nature of information recalled from topographic maps by experienced topographic- map readers was not influenced by the performance of a scene-matching task, but did vary somewhat as a function of experience with maps. The results are explained by reference to the contexts in which specialized knowledge that develops as part of experience with topographic maps will be activated. Characteristics of this specialized knowledge are discussed, as are proposals for further research on the information-processing that occurs during map use.