Abstract:

Clear individual difference is found on performance in various spatial tasks, which can be explained by difference on Spatial Cognitive Style. The Spatial Cognitive Style includes three types: the Landmark Style, the Route Style, and the Survey Style. People with the Landmark Style can only represent perceptually salient visual features of objects, but they cannot represent the relevant spatial information of the objects. People with the Route Style can represent not only perceptually salient visual features of the objects, but also the relevant sequential spatial information of the objects. People with the Survey Style can represent perceptually salient visual features and the sequential spatial information of the objects. Besides, they can also represent the relevant simultaneous spatial information of the objects. People with the Survey Style show the best spatial abilities, whereas people with the Landmark Style show the worst. Males and people with low levels of anxiety show more the Survey Style comparing with females and people with high anxiety respectively. Thus, it will help to improve people’s spatial abilities if learners can be instructed considering their Spatial Cognitive Styles.

Key words: spatial cognitive style, spatial performance, individual difference