title: Search Strategies Used by Older Adults in a Virtual Reality Place Learning Task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Older adults often have problems finding their way in novel environments such as senior living residences and hospitals. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of self-reported search strategies and cues that older adults use to find their way in a virtual maze.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy, independently living older adults (n = 129) aged 55-96 were tested in a virtual maze task over a period of 3 days in which they had to repeatedly find their way to a specified goal. They were interviewed about their strategies on days 1 and 3. Content analysis was used to identify the strategies and cues described by the participants in order to find their way. Strategies and cues used were compared among groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants reported the use of multiple spatial and non-spatial strategies, and some of the strategies differed among age groups and over time. The oldest age group was less likely to use strategies such as triangulation and distance strategies. All participants used visual landmarks to find their way, but the use of geometric cues (corners) was used less by the older participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings add to the theoretical understanding of how older adults find their way in complex environments. The understanding of how wayfinding changes with age is essential in order to design more supportive environments.
authors.affiliation: Kirkhof College of Nursing, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. davirebe@gvsu.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Kirkhof College of Nursing, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weisbeck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013028:Space Perception; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Aging; Cues; Environment; Hippocampus; Strategies; Wayfinding