Using cognitive mapping method to track down tourism students’ spatial orientation regarding tourist attractions in the city of Lviv (Ukraine)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.361.9

Keywords:

cognitive mapping, geospatial orientation, professional training, sketch map, student tourism

Abstract

Spatial orientation, in addition to being crucial for human survival, is one of the key professional competences of a tourism graduate. Thus, the development of spatial orientation throughout university programs in tourism is vital for future specialists in this field. The question of the effectiveness of training tourism majors with regard to the formation of space orientation has not been addressed in Ukrainian higher education so far. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to trace the dynamics of geospatial literacy in students of tourism during the bachelor’s and partly master’s levels of study at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and find its possible links to the curricular and extracurricular offering of the institution. The study comprised two parts: analysis of the curricula at both levels, specifically syllabi of compulsory and elective disciplines and course descriptions, and a comparative assessment of students’ geospatial orientation in the city of Lviv with a special focus on its tourist attractions using the method of cognitive mapping. Students of the 1st and 4th year of the bachelor’s program, as well as the 1st year of the master’s program participated in the study. The research results show a significant improvement in students’ spatial orientation in the city over years and suggest a positive correlation between the university’s offering (both curricular and extracurricular) and the progress observed.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Oresta Bordun, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv

Oresta Bordun holds a PhD in Geography. She is an associate professor in the Tourism Department, Faculty of Geography at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine. Her research interests cover tourism studies and geography of domestic and international tourism. Research interests are concerned with medical and health tourism, the Way of St. James Via Regia in Ukraine, organisation of transport services for tourists, and tourism business planning.

Mariya Kozolup, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv

Mariya Kozolup holds a PhD in Education. Currently, she is affiliated with Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Faculty of Foreign Languages, as an associate professor of the Department of Foreign Languages for Sciences. Her scholarly interests are centred on higher education and pedagogy, curriculum development, and teaching methods. Research and academic interests encompass academic writing, teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), as well as promoting writing culture and implementing the principles of academic integrity in higher education.

References

Bordun O. Yu., Kotyk L. I. (2020). Dydaktychne vykorystannya mentalʹnykh kart u heohrafichnykh doslidzhennyakh [The didactic use of mental maps in geographical studies]. The 3rd International scientific and practical conference “Science, society, education: topical issues and development prospects” (February 17-18, 2020) SPC “Sci-conf.com.ua”, Kharkiv, 148–153. (in Ukrainian).

Dias, A., Rui, D., Costa, A., Pita, M., Costa, C. (2017). Tourism Education: What about entrepreneurial skills? Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 30, 65–72. doi: 10.1016/j.jhtm.2017.01.002

Downs, R. M., Stea, D. (1973). Cognitive maps and spatial behavior: Process and products. In: R. Downs, D. Stea (eds.), Image and environment: Cognitive mapping and spatial behavior. Chicago: Aldine, 8–26.

Drozdov O. Yu. (2012). Mentalʹni karty yak forma reprezentatsiyi prostorovykh uyavlenʹ [Mental maps as form of representation of spatial ideas]. Actual Problems of Psychology, 33, 172–177. (in Ukrainian).

Fidgeon, P. R. (2010). Tourism education and curriculum design: A time for consolidation and review? Tourism Management, 31(6), 699–723. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.019

Fridgen, J. D. (1987). Use of cognitive maps to determine perceived tourism regions. Leisure Sciences, 9(2), 101–117. doi: 10.1080/01490408709512150

Go, H., Gretzel, U. (2016). The Role of Interactive Maps and Spatial Ability in Creating Virtual Tourism Experiences: A Measurement Framework. Travel and Tourism Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally, 24. Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/ttra/2010/Visual/24 [14-05-2021].

Golledge, R. G. (1993). Geographical perspectives on spatial cognition. In: T. Gärling, R. G. Golledge (eds.), Behavior and environment:Psychological and geographical approaches. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 16-46.

Hegarty, M. (2010). Components of Spatial Intelligence. Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 52, 265–297. doi: 10.1016/S0079-7421(10)52007-3

Hegarty, M. (2018). Ability and sex differences in spatial thinking: What does the mental rotation test really measure? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25, 1212–1219. doi: 10.3758/s13423-017-1347-z

Hospitality, Tourism, and Events Competency Model. (2017). United States Department of Labor. Retrieved from: https://www.careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/competency-models/pyramid-download.aspx?industry=hospitality [17-08-2021].

Jenkins, J. M., Walmsley, D. J. (1993). Mental maps of tourists: Coffs Harbour, NSW. GeoJournal, 29(3), 233-241. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41145851

Kostic Bobanovic, M., Grzinic, J. (2011). The importance of English language skills in the tourism sector: A comparative study of students/employees perceptions in Croatia. AlmaTourism, 2(4), 10–23. doi: 10.6092/issn.2036-5195/2476

Lam, T., Xiao, H. (2000). Challenges and constraints of hospitality and tourism education in China. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 12(5), 291–295. doi: 10.1108/09596110010339643

Ljubiceva, O. O. (2002). Rynok turystychnyh posluh (geoprostorovi aspekty) [Market of tourist services (geospatial aspects)]. Kyiv: Alterpres (in Ukrainian).

Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

McDonald, T.P., Pellegrino, J.W. (1993). Psychological perspectives on spatial cognition. In: T. Gärling, R.G. Golledge (eds.), Behavior and environment: Psychological and geographical approaches. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 47–82.

Moore, K., Simmons, D. G., Fairweather, J. R. (1998). Visitor decision making, on-site spatial behaviours, cognitive maps and destination perceptions: A case study of Kaikoura. Canterbury, N.Z.: Tourism Research and Education Centre, Lincoln University. Retrieved from: https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10182/109/TREC_Report_4.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=4

National Research Council. (2006). Learning to Think Spatially. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11019

Newcombe, N., Stieff, M. (2012). Six Myths About Spatial Thinking. International Journal of Science Education, 34, 955 - 971. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2011.588728

Schenk, F. B. (2013). Mental Maps: The Cognitive Mapping of the Continent as an Object of Research of European History. In: European History Online (EGO). The Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG), Mainz 2013-07-08. Retrieved from: http://www.ieg-ego.eu/schenkf-2013-en [2021-09-15].

Sheldon, P., Fesenmaier, D., Woeber, K., Cooper, C., Antonioli, M. (2008) Tourism Education Futures, 2010–2030: Building the Capacity to Lead. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 7(3), 61–68. doi: 10.1080/15313220801909445

Stock, K., Guesgen, H. (2016). Geospatial Reasoning With Open Data. In: R. Layton, P. A. Watters (eds.), Automating Open Source Intelligence. Algorithms for OSINT. Syngress, 171–204. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-802916-9.00010-5.

The standard of higher education of Ukraine: the first (bachelor’s) level, field of study 24 – Service industry, specialty 242 – Tourism. (2018). Kyiv: Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Retrieved from: https://mon.gov.ua/storage/app/media/vishcha-osvita/zatverdzeni%20standarty/12/21/242-Turizm-bakalavr.21.01.22.pdf (in Ukrainian)

Walmsley, D. J., Jenkins, J. M. (1992). Tourism cognitive mapping of unfamiliar environments. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 268-286.

Wang, Z. H., Ryan, C. (2007). Tourism Curriculum in the University Sector: Does it Meet Future Requirements? Evidence from Australia. Tourism Recreation Research, 32(2), 29-40. doi: 10.1080/02508281.2007.11081274

Weeks, P., Culnane, J. (2001). Technology by Degrees: Teaching Information Technology to Tourism Undergraduates – A Case Study. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 1(2-3), 39–62. doi: 10.1300/J172v01n02_03

Zehrer, A., Mössenlechner, C. (2009). Key Competencies of Tourism Graduates: The Employers' Point of View. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 9(3-4), 266–287. doi: 10.1080/15313220903445215

Zelenskaya L. I. (1998). Otsenka prostranstvennykh predstavleniy studentov-geografov kak professional'no­znachimykh osobennostey lichnosti [Evaluation of spatial representations of students-geographers as professionally significant personality traits]. Visnyk Dnipropetrovsʹkoho universytetu. Seriya: Pedahohika i psykholohiya [Bulletin of Dnipropetrovsk University. Series: Pedagogy and Psychology], 3, 123–124. (In Russian)

Zwartjes, L. (2014). The need for a learning line for spatial thinking using GIS in education. In: R. De Miguel Gonzalez, K. Donert (eds.), Innovative learning geography in Europe : new challenges for the 21st century. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge, 39–63. Retrieved from: http://www.digital-earth.be/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CSA-Learning_line_V3.pdf

Downloads

Published

2022-03-31

How to Cite

Bordun, O., & Kozolup, M. (2022). Using cognitive mapping method to track down tourism students’ spatial orientation regarding tourist attractions in the city of Lviv (Ukraine). Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society, 36(1), 138–154. https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.361.9