An Investigation of the Relationships Between the Angle of Mental Rotation Required For Spatial Orientation, Response Times, and Accuracy

<p>The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the angles of mental rotation when attempting to spatially orientate and the resulting response times and levels of accuracy. By means of a computer program, participants were presented with 64 mental rotational trials. The mental rotational trials consisted of a triangle placed in the center of the screen with a standard stick symbol of an aircraft appearing at various headings and orientations around the triangle. The participants were required to imagine themselves inside the flight deck of the aircraft, and then respond as quickly and accurately as possible to where the triangle is in relation to their orientation. Analysis of the data indicated that as the amount of angular displacement increased from the straight ahead and directly behind positions, the response times and accuracy rates increased and decreased respectively. Additionally, responses for the cardinal orientations were faster than the non-cardinal orientations.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Aeronautical Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aeronautical Science

Year

1996

Author dc:creator

• Archer, Ronald D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gerald D. Gibb
• John A. Wise
• Richard S. Gibson

• mental rotation
• spatial orientation
• response times
• accuracy
• Aerospace Engineering
• Aviation

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/6

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:db-theses-1010