A study of systematization and promotion of spatial thinking with GIS

本研究的目的是以行为地理学和认知心理学为基础，对空间思维的要素进行系统化，并探索用地理信息系统促进空间思维的方法。在空间思维的系统化方面，我们梳理了空间思维的三要素(概念、表征、推理)与相关概念(空间素养、空间能力)的关系。通过对方向感和空间思维问卷的因素结构分析，证明有几个独立因素与空间能力和空间思维有关。(2)关于与空间思维相关的课程，我们用地形图对日本国立大学入学考试中心的试题内容进行了分析。结果表明，地理教育对地形图阅读技能的要求随着国家课程标准的变化而发生变化。此外，对大学生口头报告的定性分析表明，不同类型的问题和地图，阅读地形图的认知过程是不同的。(3)针对利用地理信息系统促进空间思维的问题，我们开发了面向地方政府业务的地理信息系统教材，并对其在市政工作人员中的实用性进行了测试。然而，我们还不能肯定地理信息系统对空间思维的促进作用。

The aim of this study was to systematize the elements of spatial thinking and to explore the methods for promoting it with GIS based on behavioral geography and cognitive psychology. By dividing this theme into three subthemes, the following findings were obtained.(1) Concerning systematization of spatial thinking, we arranged the relationship between its three elements(viz., concepts, representation, and reasoning) and related concepts(e. g., spatial literacy and spatial abilities). An analysis of the factor structure through the questionnaire of sense of direction and spatial thinking proved that several independent factors are concerned with spatial abilities and spatial thinking.(2) Concerning the curriculum related to spatial thinking, we analyses the contents of the test questions with topographic maps used in the entrance examination held by the National Center for University Entrance Examination of Japan. The result showed that the skill of reading topographic maps demanded by geography education has changed according to the government curriculum guidelines. In addition, qualitative analysis of the verbal reports obtained from the subjects of university students revealed that the cognitive process of reading topographic maps varied with the types of questions and maps.(3) Concerning the promotion of spatial thinking with GIS, we developed teaching materials of GIS for the business of local government and tested its usefulness for municipal employees. However, we could not confirm the effect of GIS on the promotion of spatial thinking.