Observer Self-Location Ability and Its Relationship to Cognitive Orientation Skills

This report presents research on the ability of observers to locate military targets and to relate that location to their own position by use of military maps. The experimenters used a one-way analysis of variance design in which 30 observers were divided into categories of either high or low self- location abilities median split on a previously administered practical exercise in which the observers were required to locate their geographical position in relation to their position on a military map. Results revealed statistically significant overall differences between the two groups of observers on all three tasks. Those subjects who scored high on the previous self-location exercise also scored high on the three experimental tasks. The experimenters conclude that the pointing instrument and visual imagery tasks were successful in distinguishing subjects who scored well and those who scored low on previous self-location exercises. The experimenters also suggested that the simple pointing instrument and visual imagery tasks may, with further testing, be shown to be effective and low-cost tests to predict which observers will need additional training in self-location skills to training in observer skills.