Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture
Many people with cognitive disabilities avoid outside activities, apparently for fear of getting lost. However, little is known about the nature of the difficulties encountered and the ways in which these individuals deal with them. None of the few studies on wayfinding by people with cognitive disa...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00046/full |
| _version_ | 1818847733928165376 |
|---|---|
| author | Romain Delgrange Romain Delgrange Jean-Marie Burkhardt Jean-Marie Burkhardt Valérie Gyselinck Valérie Gyselinck |
| author_facet | Romain Delgrange Romain Delgrange Jean-Marie Burkhardt Jean-Marie Burkhardt Valérie Gyselinck Valérie Gyselinck |
| author_sort | Romain Delgrange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many people with cognitive disabilities avoid outside activities, apparently for fear of getting lost. However, little is known about the nature of the difficulties encountered and the ways in which these individuals deal with them. None of the few studies on wayfinding by people with cognitive disabilities have explored the various specific difficulties they meet in everyday life. Using both a qualitative and quantitative methodology, this study aimed at profiling the types of difficulties encountered in urban mobility and the associated problem-solving strategies. In order to provide more direct evidence from the field, we conducted semi-structured interviews using the critical incident technique (Flanagan, 1954). Among the 66 participants interviewed, 44 had cognitive disabilities and 22 were matched controls. The analysis of the transcripts showed in particular an overall reduced autonomy in problem-solving strategies for people with a cognitive disability. The multiple correspondence analysis highlighted three main types of complex situations, covering a comprehensive range of complex situations that are met in everyday life by these individuals. Results also indicated that people with cognitive disabilities request assistance from another person more frequently when a complex event occurs. These situations are discussed as potential cues for improvements in navigational aids. Conclusions and perspectives are provided to improve wayfinding among people with cognitive disabilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:06:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf7fb4564a904cd780501353438ec00d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:06:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf7fb4564a904cd780501353438ec00d2022-12-21T20:33:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612020-02-011410.3389/fnhum.2020.00046515534Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger PictureRomain Delgrange0Romain Delgrange1Jean-Marie Burkhardt2Jean-Marie Burkhardt3Valérie Gyselinck4Valérie Gyselinck5LAPEA, Univ. Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Versailles, FranceUniversité de Paris, LAPEA, Boulogne-Billancourt, FranceLAPEA, Univ. Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Versailles, FranceUniversité de Paris, LAPEA, Boulogne-Billancourt, FranceLAPEA, Univ. Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Versailles, FranceUniversité de Paris, LAPEA, Boulogne-Billancourt, FranceMany people with cognitive disabilities avoid outside activities, apparently for fear of getting lost. However, little is known about the nature of the difficulties encountered and the ways in which these individuals deal with them. None of the few studies on wayfinding by people with cognitive disabilities have explored the various specific difficulties they meet in everyday life. Using both a qualitative and quantitative methodology, this study aimed at profiling the types of difficulties encountered in urban mobility and the associated problem-solving strategies. In order to provide more direct evidence from the field, we conducted semi-structured interviews using the critical incident technique (Flanagan, 1954). Among the 66 participants interviewed, 44 had cognitive disabilities and 22 were matched controls. The analysis of the transcripts showed in particular an overall reduced autonomy in problem-solving strategies for people with a cognitive disability. The multiple correspondence analysis highlighted three main types of complex situations, covering a comprehensive range of complex situations that are met in everyday life by these individuals. Results also indicated that people with cognitive disabilities request assistance from another person more frequently when a complex event occurs. These situations are discussed as potential cues for improvements in navigational aids. Conclusions and perspectives are provided to improve wayfinding among people with cognitive disabilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00046/fullspatial cognitionmobilitysemi-structured interviewcritical incident techniquenavigational aids |
| spellingShingle | Romain Delgrange Romain Delgrange Jean-Marie Burkhardt Jean-Marie Burkhardt Valérie Gyselinck Valérie Gyselinck Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture Frontiers in Human Neuroscience spatial cognition mobility semi-structured interview critical incident technique navigational aids |
| title | Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture |
| title_full | Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture |
| title_fullStr | Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture |
| title_short | Difficulties and Problem-Solving Strategies in Wayfinding Among Adults With Cognitive Disabilities: A Look at the Bigger Picture |
| title_sort | difficulties and problem solving strategies in wayfinding among adults with cognitive disabilities a look at the bigger picture |
| topic | spatial cognition mobility semi-structured interview critical incident technique navigational aids |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00046/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT romaindelgrange difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture AT romaindelgrange difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture AT jeanmarieburkhardt difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture AT jeanmarieburkhardt difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture AT valeriegyselinck difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture AT valeriegyselinck difficultiesandproblemsolvingstrategiesinwayfindingamongadultswithcognitivedisabilitiesalookatthebiggerpicture |