Selection of Frame of Reference in Spatial Cognition: Effects of the Inherent Direction of Reference and Located objects

摘要

We usually express the spatial location of one object in reference to the other object. The former object is called a located object, which a speaker intends to describe the spatial position. The latter is called a reference object, which is employed to describe the located object. Previous findings showed that the inherent direction of reference objects would exert some influences on the selection of frame of reference. However, those effects of located objects have been ignored. In this study, we conducted two experiments to examine the effects of the inherent direction of located objects by manipulating the inherent directions of located objects as well as those of reference objects. The results indicated that the located objects as well as reference ones affect the selection of frame of reference. From the results, it is possible to say that the selection of a reference system would be made to reduce the ambiguity of interpretations.