How good are these directions? Determining direction quality and wayfinding efficiency

Our goal was to specify the effectiveness of wayfinding directions in a complex indoor environment. We measured direction quality using effectiveness ratings and behavioral indices. In Study 1, participants provided effectiveness ratings for seven combinations of wayfinding descriptions. In general, ratings were higher for route details than for survey details, and ratings increased as the number of features increased. Moreover, people with a good self-reported sense of direction gave higher ratings to survey descriptions (cardinal directions and distances) relative to those with a poor self-reported sense of direction. In Study 2, participants provided effectiveness ratings for route and survey directions before and after wayfinding using these directions. Route directions resulted in fewer wayfinding errors and higher effectiveness ratings than did survey directions. People with a poor self-reported sense of direction made more wayfinding errors and provided lower effectiveness ratings than did people with a good self-reported sense of direction. We also demonstrated important relations between wayfinding errors and ratings after wayfinding, as well as links with sense of direction, wayfinding strategies, and mental rotation.

► We addressed skillful wayfinding by probing effectiveness ratings and wayfinding efficiency.
► Effectiveness ratings increased as the number of descriptive features increased.
► Survey directions were indicative of low ratings. Route directions were indicative of high ratings.
► Route directions and good sense of direction resulted in fewer wayfinding errors.
► Sense of direction, wayfinding strategies, spatial anxiety, and mental rotation were related.