Abstract
Based on my previous tourist guidebook studies, the largest distinction between Japan ans US spatial description schama can be found in proportionate use of maps and language (direction giving sentenses). By doing a cross-cultural wayfinding survey with use of the directional materials, this study has clarified a significant distinction between the two countries in wayfinding occation.
39 Japanese and US students were divided into map-first and language-first groups and asked to follow a route for twice. Then, they asked to fill out evaluation forms for each trial. 1 way ANOVA on the results revealed a significant effect on their relative evaluation of usefulness to each other, and JP testee answered map was better than scripts whereas the results from US did not show such an strong preference. Familiarity effects also effected their absolute evaluation. However, 1-way ANOVA results demonstrated that the same tendency on results was still significant.
