Related Experiment Videos
Transfer of route learning from virtual to real environments
Martin J Farrell1, Paul Arnold, Steve Pettifer
1Department of Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. farrell@psy.man.ac.uk
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied
|December 11, 2003
Summary
Virtual environment (VE) training for route learning does not outperform traditional map study. Active exploration in a VE with a map yielded better real-world transfer than passive training or no VE exposure.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cognitive Psychology
- Virtual Reality
Background:
- Virtual environments (VEs) are increasingly used for training.
- The transfer of learned information from VEs to the real world is a critical research question.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of virtual environment (VE) training for real-world route learning.
- To compare different VE training methods (active vs. passive, with vs. without a map) against traditional map study.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted comparing VE training conditions with real-world route learning tasks.
- Methods included active and passive VE exploration, with and without map usage, and control conditions.
Main Results:
- Active VE exploration, particularly with a map, showed better transfer than passive VE training or no VE training.
- VE + map training was not superior to map study alone.
- Passive VE training led to poorer performance due to a lack of active navigational decisions, not inattention.
Conclusions:
- Current virtual environment technology does not offer superior route learning compared to traditional map study.
- Active navigational decision-making is crucial for effective route learning, whether in a VE or real world.