Mental maps >> Students´ thesis

Abstract:: The aim of this bachelor thesis is to comparison different theoretically defined concepts (political science, physical geography, socio-geographic, religious, economic, etc.) of the regionalization of Europe based on objectively given criteria with mental maps of individuals from selected European countries in which they plotted where is the region Central Europe, and with knowledge coming from school textbooks and atlases from the corresponding countries. The main aim of the bachelor thesis is to find out if there are some relationships between the partial outputs and describe them if necessary.

Keywords: region and regionalization, mental map, regional identity, Central Europe, space perception, textbooks and cartographic teaching aids

Abstract:: The primary goal of this thesis is to find out how the individual creates his cognitive map of the known or, respectively, unknown environment, and what structures and landmarks they use in area. Other, secondary goals should be to find out which factors affect the strategy of human movement and how much it affects its environment. In the first phase, two different localities were selected (rural / urban environment). The next step was a field research which aimed to obtain a reasonable amount of interviews from people who moved in selected localities. The results from each locality will be evaluated and mentioned. The results from the field research and the electronic questionnaire will be compared and commented, and at the end of the work the results obtained from the field research will be summarized. Results of the research were used for formulation of suggestions how to improve the methodology and to point out problematic areas.

Keywords: strategy of space movement, orientation in space, perception of space, aggregated mental map, cognitive map

Abstract:: The main objective of the work is to capture the historical development of UJEP campus since the beginning of the establishment of the hospital in 1884 until the present day, during which there was a fundamental change of the space function from the hospital environment to the UJEP university campus. The author also takes into account the prognosis of further developments, especially the other planned UJEP campus buildings. In addition, the author focuses on the reflection of these changes by local residents through questionnaire surveys, interviews and mental maps (eg replacing the hospital with a new CPTO building, comparison of the CPTO´s winning design with other proposals, changes in the range of different areas, presence of different social groups Visitors to the area, etc.). The continuity of changes with spatial views of the population will be monitored. Selected stages of space changes, including the reflection of the area by the inhabitants, will be captured in map outputs.

Keywords: mental map, space perception, UJEP campus, territory development

Abstract:: The aim of this work is to evaluate the perception of the flood risk of the inhabitants of Křešice with the help of mental maps, and try to determine the factors (age, place of residence, sex, etc.), which influence the perception of vulnerable and safe areas in relation to floods. The research was conducted using aggregated mental maps generated from a questionnaire survey conducted in another qualifying work. The bachelor thesis examines to what extent the inhabitants of the floods are affected by gender, age, place of residence or education.

Keywords: mental map, Křešice, perception, flood risk, perception map

Abstract:: The goal of this bachelor thesis is to evaluate the rate and extent of regional identity of pupils from the elementary school in Úštěk by using of mental maps and to attempt to determine factors (age, adress…), which have an influence for the pupil´s regional identity. The thesis also evaluates school educational programmes and textbooks used on the stated school in the relation to regional identity. In the next part there is an aggregated preferential map of pupils from the elementary school made out. The research was made by the use of questionnaires, in which pupils should plot their visions about Úštěk region. The result was, that pupils were aware of certain difference of their region. The only factor, which has an influence to the resulting form of the identity, is the pupil´s age. School educational programmes and textbooks focus on the past and on region´s landscape character. They don´t form the identity to the region via current habits and traditions. The final aggregated preferential maps indicate positive and negative evaluated space in Úštěk. In The preferential maps it is also evident, that pupils during the space evaluation, focus on individual space. All findings gained during the research, are reflected in the methodical list.

Keywords: mental map, regional identity, Úštěk, textbooks, school educational programmes, space perception

Abstract:: he primary goal of this thesis is the application of methodology and its evaluation of cartographic works by use of mental maps, published by Bláha and Hudeček, with their impact on school atlases of the world. In the first phase, there were selected three school atlases of the world from different publishing houses that were evaluated by pupils of primary schools and grammar schools. In the next step, there were selected schools and classes, where the research takes place. In the final phase, the mental maps were processed on the basis of their frequencies of plotted elements into the aggregated mental maps. According to the final assessment of pupils’ mental maps, it was found that the most useful user’s school atlas of the world is that one published by SHOCart, the second place belongs to the School Today’s World Atlas published by TERRA, and as the least useful user’s school atlas was evaluated the School Atlas of the World published by Kartografie Praha. Based on the results of the research were drawn up proposals to improve the methodology, and moreover, it was pointed out its problematic areas.

Keywords: mental map, aggregated mental map, school atlas, usability, assessment of cartographic works

Abstract:: This work deals with the change of a space perception depending on the relationship between that space and respondents. The main goal is to determine how the orientation of respondents is changed in an unfamiliar area in comparison with the familiar area. Secondary goal examines how these responses are changed according to this space. The introduction is focused on goals, working hypotheses and basic concept definitions which are related to an issue of mental maps. GIS tools are used to evaluate mental maps. The main part is devoted to a case study of Holešovice district, processing and interpretation of gained results. The final section summarises results and confirms or disproves hypotheses. The results are aggregated maps representing four different groups of respondents followed by possibilities of a practical use of that work.

Keywords: mental maps, perception of space, influence of the environment on residents

Abstract:: The aim of this thesis is to define the method of calculating the content of maps and apply it to selected teaching maps and atlas maps. The first part tells something about the current state of the issue. Methodology is the second part in which maps are presented and the calculation of content and charge maps. In the chapter results are commented the contents of individual maps and the comparisons and evaluations are made. The finaly methodology can be helpfull for further analysis of maps.

Keywords: teaching map, school atlas, content of map

Abstract:: The aim of this study is to analyze the ideas of students of various ages and residence about spatial layout and geography of the Czech Republic. The output is mainly maps that provide visual comparison of these concepts. The method of research is the survey which was carried out on four Czech schools. The beginning of the paper is devoted to the theory of mental maps, specification of hypotheses and the administration of the questionnaire. The analysis of the data is then divided into three parts. The main task of the first part involves the creation of so-called aggregate mental maps of a map of the Czechia (for each school separately). The second part examines the positioning accuracy of Prague on these maps. The last part of the research is to analyze preferences of students for their permanent housing. The conclusion of the study includes a summary evaluation of the results and provides suggestions for further research and possible use of this study.

Keywords: mental maps of Czechia, aggregation, localization, preferences, survey

Abstract:: The aim of this thesis is to propose and practical apply the alternative methodics of assessment of cartographic works. The thesis is processed in the terms of project of Grant Agency of the Charles University Mental Maps: subject and means for assessment. The adjoining aim of this study is then to test which of the assessed tourist maps is the most user friendly. As the method for data acquiring the questionnaire investigation methodology has been chosen. The basic for the assessment of cartographic works are in the case of this study of mental maps of lynch type. Theoretical part is devoted to Mental and Cognitive Maps as well as to the ways of cartographic works assessment. Space is also devoted to the methodology of assessment cartographic works itself. There has been defined the subject of assessment together with the statement of hypotheses and the aims of thesis. Practical application of the proposal methodology and assessment the results has been composed from several parts. First the tourist maps have been assessed by the expert himself. Afterwords another assessment has started with the use of mental maps. This assessment has been composed of the phase of preparation where the questionnaire itself was being created. Then it was harmonized with the help of the pilot investigation and with the experts for cognitive psychology consultation. After the questionnaire harmonization the data collection started. Thus acquired data have been worked into so called aggregated mental maps which were furthermore assessed. Assessment of the obtained result were found that the maps of Kartografie Praha /Cartography Prague/ are the most user friendly, followed by the tourist maps of SHOCart and then the tourist maps of the Czech Tourist Club have been stated as the least effective maps for users. These results were then further compared with the results of the expert assessment and other research works which were interested in that particular subjects. In conclusion the recommendations with the proposals for improvements have been worked out and the most problematical subjects have been described.

Keywords: mental map, assessment of cartographic works, tourist map, aggregated mental map, survey, user-friendliness

Abstract:: The goal of this thesis is to analyse the role of the teacher in teaching regional geography at school using cartographic tools – mental and teaching maps. Suitable class of elementary school was chosen at first and then the research was taken. The pupils had to draw their mental maps of chosen continent and complete the questionnaire. That served as a source of possible data influence or distortion in drawen maps. Then the mental and teaching maps were compared and was evaluated the role of the teacher. The important part of this thesis is the discussion of reached results.

Keywords: pupils‘ mental maps, regional geography, teaching

Abstract:: This work is an input study to the interdisciplinary issue of cultural aspects of cartographic creation. Its aim is to search among sources of information and literature across disciplines, which relate to this issue. It includes the theoretical introduction devoted to content map, map stylistics and map language, in which maps show the greatest cultural differences. The analogy between map and classical language (linguistic anthropology) and the analogy between early maps and maps of primitive culture are described. In addition to language environment, experience and society in which man lives are mentioned as the determinants of the human spatial perception and other categories related to map creation. The methodical part of the work examines in detail cognitive maps, resp. mental maps of map users and map makers as part of cross-culture research. These maps can be used to detect the cultural particularities of cartographic creation. In its conclusion the work suggests further course of study and other benefits for theory of culture and cartography.

Keywords: cross-culture research, cognitive maps, cartographic creation, map stylistics, cultural specificities of artifacts

Abstract:: This work deals with the possibilities of assessments of mental maps using GIS tools. The main goal is to create a collection of methods to evaluate positioning and relative accuracy of mental maps. The method principles are based on methods of GIS. The emphasis is on maximum versatility and automation the assessment procedure. For all proposed methods there are further discussed the advantages and disadvantages. First part of this work deals with the theme of mental maps, followed by a brief introduction to GIS and their use in the field mental maps. The main part is devoted to the description and practical examples of evaluation methods. At the conclusion there is a discussion of the proposed methods and the appropriateness of use GIS at this issue in general. This work was created under the project No. 26609 called "Mental Maps: Object and Device for Assessment" supported by the Grant Agency of Charles University.

Keywords: mental maps, GIS, assessments of accuracy

Abstract:: This work is based on so called mental maps, which are created virtually in a runner’s mind during an orienteering competition. The main task is to analyse various types of orienteering maps (terrains) and how they are recorded in the mind by different age and skill categories of orienteers. The theoretical part describes the idea of mental maps in general and also recent cartographic methods used in the production of orienteering maps. The main chapter deals with the survey and analysis of a collection of mental maps, which were obtained by questionnaire examination. At the end of this work the results are discussed together with the possibilities of the results being used as the basis for future research.

Keywords: mental map, orienteering map, questionnaire examination