Cognition of urban space and navigation by the handicapped

自1965 Association of American Geographers' conference in Columbus, Ohioanglophone behavioral geographers have worked hard to foster多重disciplinary研究with psychologists in particular. However there have not been such trials by日本地理学家yet. This is the first collaboration project between geographers and psychologists in日本. thecross-fertilization of research aims, ideas，methodologies across disciplinary boundaries is not easy，but we could deepen reciprocal understanding trough the project. Ecological approach is the key.将psychology broadened psychologists' concern to geographical space from Recent ecological turn in psychology hasnarrow laboratory.Now geographers and psychologists可以分享在geographical space中的interests。geographical space affects spatial cognition and导航？In order to explore this question，我们关注的焦点在日本城市的人口人口比例认知和导航所以被:the disabled, foreigners，and children. We also investigate the sex/gender-differences of spatial cognition.We plan thesymposium in the association of Japanese Geographers' spring conference in 2000. the followings areour paper titles in the symposium: Exploring the fruitful links between geography and psychologyNotes on the spatial cognition and behavior of handicapped persons：toward a dialogue between geographers and psychologists Are females apt to lose their way？The origin of The sex/gender-differences of spatial cognition Wayfinding behavior without vision：取向与移动（英语：orientation and mobility of the blind and visually impaired） - spatial knowledgeacquisition by Japanese-Brazilian Wayfinding difficulties among foreign people who live in日本The research of children's development of spatial cognition on geography来自Piagetian theory contextual approach的several barriers in a downtown from The children'ssuggestion

Since the 1965 Association of American Geographers' conference in Columbus, Ohio, anglophone behavioral geographers have worked hard to foster multidisciplinary research, with psychologists in particular. However there have not been such trials by Japanese geographers yet. This is the first collaboration project between geographers and psychologists in Japan. The cross-fertilization of research aims, ideas, and methodologies across disciplinary boundaries is not easy, but we could deepen reciprocal understanding trough the project. Ecological approach is the key. Recent ecological turn in psychology has broadened psychologists' concern to geographical space from narrow laboratory.Now geographers and psychologists can share same interests in geographical space. How and what in geographical space affects spatial cognition and navigation? In order to explore this question, we focus on the people who suffer handicap in spatial cognition and navigation in Japanese urban space : the disabled, foreigners, and children. We also investigate the sex/gender-differences of spatial cognition.We plan the symposium in the association of Japanese Geographers' spring conference in 2000. The followings are our paper titles in the symposium :・ Exploring the fruitful links between geography and psychology・ Notes on the spatial cognition and behavior of handicapped persons : toward a dialogue between geographers and psychologists・ Are females apt to lose their way? The origin of the sex/gender-differences of spatial cognition・ Wayfinding behavior without vision : orientation and mobility of the blind and visually impaired・ A study of spatial knowledge acquisition by Japanese-Brazilian・ Wayfinding difficulties among foreign people who live in Japan・ The research of children's development of spatial cognition on geography : from Piagetian theory contextual approach・ The several barriers in a downtown from the children's suggestion