Holly Taylor | Tufts University (original) (raw)

Papers by Holly Taylor

Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2012

Three studies test whether the southern route preference, which describes the tendency for route ... more Three studies test whether the southern route preference, which describes the tendency for route planners to disproportionately select south-rather than north-going routes, can be attributed to regional elevation patterns; specifically, we ask whether this effect replicates in three topographically disparate international regions, one of which is characterized by higher elevations to the north and lower to the south (Padua, Italy), and two characterized by higher elevations to the south and lower to the north (Enschede, Netherlands; Sofia, Bulgaria). In all cases, we found strong evidence that route planners disproportionately select south-rather than north-going routes at rates exceeding chance. We conclude that the southern route preference is driven by strong associations between canonical direction and perceived effort of route traversal; these effects are somewhat perplexing given that such associations are not founded in the reality of physical space.

Journal of The American Society for Information Science and Technology, 1994

Memory & Cognition, 1990

Tversky and Kahneman (1983) showed that when subjects are asked to rate the likelihood of several... more Tversky and Kahneman (1983) showed that when subjects are asked to rate the likelihood of several alternatives, including single and joint events, they often make a “conjunction fallacy.” That is, they rate the conjunction of two events as being more likely than one of the constituent events. This, they claim, is a fallacy, since the conjunction of two events can never be more probable than either of the component events. In addition, they found that prior training in probability theory does not decrease the likelihood of making this fallacy. We argue that in some contexts, an alternative that contains the conjunction oftwo events can be more probable than an alternative that contains only one of the conjunction's constituent events. We carried out four experiments in which we manipulated this context. The frequency of making a conjunction fallacy was affected by the manipulation of context. Furthermore, when the context was clearly specified, prior training in statistics influenced the ratings.

Describing the location of a landmark in a scene typically requires taking a perspective. Descrip... more Describing the location of a landmark in a scene typically requires taking a perspective. Descriptions of scenes with several landmarks use either a route perspective, where the viewpoint is within the scene or a survey perspective, where the viewpoint is outside, or a mixture of both. Parallel to this, American Sign Language (ASL) uses two spatial formats, viewer space, in which the described space is conceived of as in front of the speaker, or diagrammatic space, in which the described space is conceived of as from outside, usually above. In the present study, speakers of English or ASL described one of two memorized maps. ASL signers were more likely to adopt a survey perspective than English speakers, indicating that language modality can influence perspective choice. In ASL, descriptions from a survey perspective used diagrammatic space, whereas descriptions from route perspective used viewer space. In English, iconic gestures accompanying route descriptions used the full 3-D space, similar to viewer space, while gestures accompanying survey descriptions used a 2-D horizontal or vertical plane similar to diagrammatic space. Thus, the two modes of experiencing environments, from within and from without, are expressed naturally in speech, sign, and gesture.

Physiology & Behavior, 2005

The relationship between breakfast composition and cognitive performance was examined in elementa... more The relationship between breakfast composition and cognitive performance was examined in elementary school children. Two experiments compared the effects of two common U.S. breakfast foods and no breakfast on children's cognition. Using a within-participant design, once a week for 3 weeks, children consumed one of two breakfasts or no breakfast and then completed a battery of cognitive tests. The two breakfasts were instant oatmeal and ready-to-eat cereal, which were similar in energy, but differed in macronutrient composition, processing characteristics, effects on digestion and metabolism, and glycemic score. Results with 9 to 11 year-olds replicated previous findings showing that breakfast intake enhances cognitive performance, particularly on tasks requiring processing of a complex visual display. The results extend previous findings by showing differential effects of breakfast type. Boys and girls showed enhanced spatial memory and girls showed improved short-term memory after consuming oatmeal. Results with 6 to 8 year-olds also showed effects of breakfast type. Younger children had better spatial memory and better auditory attention and girls exhibited better short-term memory after consuming oatmeal. Due to compositional differences in protein and fiber content, glycemic scores, and rate of digestion, oatmeal may provide a slower and more sustained energy source and consequently result in cognitive enhancement compared to low-fiber high glycemic ready-to-eat cereal. These results have important practical implications, suggesting the importance of what children consume for breakfast before school. D

Applied Cognitive Psychology, 1999

In two experiments, participants received a spatial description relating a route through an envir... more In two experiments, participants received a spatial description relating a route through an environment. Descriptions diered in terms of the spatial perspective presented, either route or survey, and the degree to which spatial information was determined, either indeterminate, determinate, or overdeterminate. In Experiment 1, participants read the description and in Experiment 2 they listened to the description and took notes for later use. Results indicated that perspective and determinacy in¯uenced memory and the contents of participants' notes. More speci®cally, perspective in¯uenced the integration of information. The eect of determinacy depended on degree. Indeterminacy in¯uenced use of a mental representation, in particular during way®nding. Overdeterminacy stressed working memory, thereby in¯uencing many aspects of performance. In summary, perspective and determinacy, which commonly vary in spatial descriptions, in¯uence the ability to eciently use descriptions.

Memory & Cognition, 1999

In two experiments, subjects learned an unfamiliar campus environment, either by studying a map o... more In two experiments, subjects learned an unfamiliar campus environment, either by studying a map or by navigating. During acquisition, the subjects had one of two spatial goals: to learn the layout of the building (survey goal) or to learn the fastest routes between locations (route goal). Spatial memory was tested with several tasks, some assessing survey perspective processing and some assessing route perspective processing. Results indicate multiple influences on the representation of spatial perspective. Learning condition influenced performance. Individuals studying maps gave more accurate responses to some survey perspective tasks, whereas individuals navigating gave more accurate responses to some route perspective tasks. Spatial goals also influenced performance. Having a route goal enhanced performance on route perspective tasks; having a survey goal enhanced performance on survey perspective tasks. These findings are discussed in the context of research indicating flexibility when processing spatial perspective. Individuals can use spatial information from different perspectives, often doing so in a goal-directed manner.

Computers & Geosciences, 2000

Although numerous studies have shown that computer-based education is effective for enhancing rot... more Although numerous studies have shown that computer-based education is effective for enhancing rote memorization, the impact of these tools on higher-order cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, is less clear. Existing methods for evaluating educational effectiveness, such as surveys, quizzes and pre- or post-interviews, may not be effective for evaluating impact on critical thinking skills because students are not always

Spatial Cognition and Computation, 2000

Describing the location of a landmark in ascene typically requires taking a perspective. Descript... more Describing the location of a landmark in ascene typically requires taking a perspective. Descriptions of scenes with several landmarksuse either a route perspective, where theviewpoint is within the scene or a surveyperspective, where the viewpoint is outside, ora mixture of both. Parallel to this, AmericanSign Language (ASL) uses two spatial formats,viewer space, in which the described space isconceived of as in front of the speaker, ordiagrammatic space, in which the describedspace is conceived of as from outside, usuallyabove. In the present study, speakers ofEnglish or ASL described one of two memorizedmaps. ASL signers were more likely to adopt asurvey perspective than English speakers,indicating that language modality can influenceperspective choice. In ASL, descriptions froma survey perspective used diagrammatic space,whereas descriptions from a route perspectiveused viewer space. In English, iconic gesturesaccompanying route descriptions used the full3-D space, similar to viewer space, whilegestures accompanying survey descriptions useda 2-D horizontal or vertical plane similar todiagrammatic space. Thus, the two modes ofexperiencing environments, from within and fromwithout, are expressed naturally in speech,sign, and gesture.