Bachelor/ Master thesis of the wayfinding research
Finding our way from A to B is a very complex, but a very important function in our daily lives. It is based on various cognitive strategies. This ability is limited for people of older age and in certain patient groups. Our objective is to develop effective training programs for elderly and people with impaired cognition in the future.
In our research project, we investigate the mechanisms of wayfinding behavior and the related factors that influence wayfinding performance. The Institute of Training Science and Sports Informatics is currently assigning up to four bachelor's or master's theses.
Research topics:
1. The effect of time pressure or active-passive engagement on wayfinding behavior: comparison between learning time or differences between active and passive learning.
2. Age-related change in wayfinding performance based on independent wayfinding strategies: comparison between young and older population.
Research methods:
Five types of mazes, each requiring a different wayfinding strategy. The mazes are implemented in a desktop-based virtual task, and are navigated by using a joystick controller (examples as in the above photos).
Literature:
- Bock, O., & Borisova, S. (2022). A Comparison of the Serial Order Strategy and the Associative Cue Strategy for Decision Making in Wayfinding Tasks. Interdisciplinary Journal of Signage and Wayfinding, 6(2), 7-16.
- Wolbers, T., & Hegarty, M. (2010). What determines our navigational abilities?. Trends in cognitive sciences, 14(3), 138-146.
- Hegarty, M., He, C., Boone, A. P., Yu, S., Jacobs, E. G., & Chrastil, E. R. (2023). Understanding differences in wayfinding strategies. Topics in Cognitive Science, 15(1), 102-119.
Further information on the project:
https://www.bollstiftung.de/projekte/wissenschaft/strategien-der-wegfindung
Interested?
Then send an email with your (1) study program, (2) desired thesis submission date, (3) topic you are interested in, to
Prof. Dr. Otmar Bock
Institute for Training Science and Sport Informatics
German Sport University Cologne