Map Projection and Global-scale Spatial Cognition: Issues in Psychophysical Estimation

Is cognition of geographic space affected by the source from which the knowledge is acquired (i.e., map, navigation, verbal description, etc.)? Studies have shown that it is and that these effects may be the result of the source, source content, or sensory mode, amongst other potential causes. If cognition of geographic space is affected by the source from which the information is acquired then it should also be affected by the distortions inherent in the information in the source. Spatial information for global-scale space can be acquired through limited means – small-scale (cartographic) representations (i.e., maps) being the most common and most practical. In fact, maps are the only way in which the entire Earth can be viewed at one time. This paper summarizes results of two studies on global-scale spatial cognition with respect to distortion in map projections and standard effects of psychophysical estimation.