The nature and use of route expectancies following incidental learning

Two studies explore how navigation along a route may be guided by expectanc ies. After walking through a neighborhood for the first time, children (10 years) and adults (24 years) either repeated or reversed the route and were stopped prior to intersections. They were tested for memories of the next intersection and indicated whether they expected to turn. Results of the fi rst study indicated that path choices cued by scenes were associated with t he ability to describe the next intersection, recall of actions to take at the next intersection, and use of general orientation cues. Results of the second study indicated that way finders who scored high on these measures o f expectancies also knew when they were on route. (C) 1999 Academic Press.