An Exploratory Assessment of Spatial Thinking among Geospatial Professionals in South Africa

Abstract

Spatial thinking is the cognitive skill of combining concepts of space, representation tools, and reasoning processes to solve complex spatial problems. Despite significant advances in geospatial technologies, individuals still lack this important skill, especially when working with maps and geospatial data. Spatial thinking abilities have been assessed for school learners and university students, but to our knowledge, not yet for those with work experience. A better understanding of the level of spatial thinking abilities in the geospatial industry can help us to understand whether experience and daily work with maps and geospatial data improve spatial thinking abilities. In this paper, we present the results of an exploratory study in which respondents from the geospatial industry of South Africa completed the spatial thinking ability test (STAT) developed by Lee and Bednarz (2012). Results indicate that gender, age, qualification level and discipline do not influence an individual’s spatial thinking ability. However, work experience and the kind of work people engage with on a daily basis impact a person’s spatial thinking ability. Our results provide a baseline for further comparative studies, e.g., between the Global South and North, and also with other industries. In further research, the influence of other factors, e.g., dance, art and travel experience, on spatial thinking abilities should also be investigated. We encourage others to conduct similar studies so that the understanding of what develops spatial thinking abilities beyond a school and university education can be improved.