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Question 1

The Weaknesses of the Study?

Answer 1

1. Ecological validity – is imagining routes the same thing as happens in the real world?
2. Reductionist nature (making everything explained by a simple structure) may limit its usefulness and generalizability to other areas
3. Related to this is the fact that the researchers take a very DETERMINISTIC stance in that they assume all behavior can be explained physiologically.
4. The sample only consists of white males and was small

Question 2

Usefulness to Psychology?

Answer 2

1. provides an explanation of how topographical tasks are handled by the brain as compared to other memory tasks.
2. This explanation however may be too reductionist.

Question 3

Further studies and alternative Methodology ideas?

Answer 3

. Have the subjects learn new routes through a simulated city to see how learning is encoded to these areas as opposed to how it is retrieved.

2. Extend to women as women may map the world differently than men
3. Possibly using new technology to simulate moving in 3d world.