Paths with more turns are perceived as longer: misperceptions with map-based and abstracted path stimuli

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Spatial Cognition
• Human Navigation

Background:

• The route-angularity effect describes the tendency to overestimate distances for routes with more turns.
• Previous research has not fully explored the origins or generalizability of this effect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the source and generalizability of the route-angularity effect.
• To determine if the effect is influenced by viewing maps, sex differences, or sense of direction.
• To test if the effect persists with stimuli lacking spatial context.

Main Methods:

• Three experiments were conducted with 1,552 participants (32.2 years average age; 992 men, 560 women).
• Participants viewed paths of identical overall length but varying in the number of turns (1-7).
• Paths were presented on maps or blank backgrounds, and participants estimated travel time or distance. The Santa Barbara Sense of Direction questionnaire was used.

Main Results:

• Paths with more turns consistently led to higher estimates of distance and travel time, regardless of map context.
• The route-angularity effect was significantly larger in participants with a lower sense of direction.
• The effect was observed even with paths presented on blank backgrounds, suggesting a perceptual basis.

Conclusions:

• The route-angularity effect is supported and extends to map-based stimuli.
• The effect is not solely dependent on environmental context or visual complexity, indicating a potential role in visual perception.
• Individual differences in sense of direction modulate the magnitude of the route-angularity effect.