Heuristics for knowledge acquisition from maps

Perry W. Thorndyke

ResearchPublished 1979

Acquiring knowledge from a map depends upon procedures for focusing attention, encoding information, and integrating diverse knowledge. This paper describes the heuristics people use to study and learn maps. Verbal protocols obtained from eight subjects suggested four categories of procedures that were invoked during learning: attention, encoding, evaluation, and control. The use of certain heuristics in each category was highly predictive of learning success. Good learners differed from poor learners in their ability to encode spatial information, to evaluate their learning progress, and to focus their attention in accordance with a learning plan. Many of the successful heuristics appear to be readily trainable.

Order a Print Copy

Format
Paperback
Page count
23 pages
List Price
$20.00
Buy link
Add to Cart

Topics

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 1979
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 23
  • Paperback Price: $20.00
  • Document Number: N-1193-ONR

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Thorndyke, Perry W., Heuristics for knowledge acquisition from maps, RAND Corporation, N-1193-ONR, 1979. As of September 5, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N1193.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Thorndyke, Perry W., Heuristics for knowledge acquisition from maps. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1979. https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N1193.html. Also available in print form.
BibTeX RIS

This publication is part of the RAND note series. The note was a product of RAND from 1979 to 1993 that reported miscellaneous outputs of sponsored research for general distribution.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.