Puesta al dıa de métodos para el estudio de espacios cognitivos a través de Sistemas de Información Geográfica

Given the diversity of approaches focused on the analysis of cognitive spaces, the aim of our study was to explore the opportunities that GIS offers for studying the perception of the space and their integration into new disciplines interested in this approach (Public Health). Using sketch maps from a group of residents of Villaverde (Madrid, Spain), we designed a methodology for analyzing the structure and deformations of cognitive spaces. Three analysis were performed: 1) to identify the structural elements of cognitive space stabilized by Lynch (1969); 2) to calculate an index to quantify the size, the shape and the home centered-location in the sketch maps; 3) to analyze the deformations of the cognitive space through a bidimensional regression model as a measure to compare the different representations and the actual map. The results show how GIS allowed us to represent the perceived elements of space, integrating quantitative and qualitative information, while simplifying processing of social and psychological data