How do you get there from here? Mental representations of route descriptions

In two experiments, participants received a spatial description relating a route through an environment. Descriptions differed in terms of the spatial perspective presented, either route or survey, and the degree to which spatial information was determined, either indeterminate, determinate, or overdeterminate. In Experiment 1, participants read the description and in Experiment 2 they listened to the description and took notes for later use. Results indicated that perspective and determinacy influenced memory and the contents of participants' notes. More specifically, perspective influenced the integration of information. The effect of determinacy depended on degree. Indeterminacy influenced use of a mental representation, in particular during wayfinding. Overdeterminacy stressed working memory, thereby influencing many aspects of performance. In summary, perspective and determinacy, which commonly vary in spatial descriptions, influence the ability to efficiently use descriptions.