An Evaluation of Models of Consumer Spatial Behavior Using the Environment-Behavior Paradigm

Abstract

This article presents an overview of models of consumer spatial behavior and evaluates them in the context of the environment-behavior paradigm. It is argued that the theoretical relevance of the consumer spatial behavior models to research on spatial cognition and wayfinding can be better understood when analyzed in this context. The models are evaluated on four dimensions: (a) the degree to which the model incorporates the notion of the physical environment, (b) the degree to which the model addresses person-based (individual difference) variables, (c) the use of behavioral outcome measures, and (d) the relationships between these variables. This analysis shows that many of the variables employed by the consumer models could be used in research on spatial cognition and wayfinding. Directions are proposed for broadening models of spatial cognition through the addition of the variables used in consumer research.