Spatial activities form such an integral part of everyday life that they are rarely noticed as phenomena unto themselves. However, we are reminded of the critical roles that spatial thought and behavior play in the quality of life when problems occur in the course of these activities, as, for example, when we search for but cannot find a desired object or when we become disoriented in an unfamiliar part of town. Relatively little is known about the effects of aging on human spatial abilities, especially those cognitive skills involved in spatial activities. Consequently, we can make only the most general of inferences regarding the impact of spatial cognition and behavior on the quality of life for elderly adults.

Clearly, additional research is needed in this area, but in order to be of optimal value, this research should be guided by a general conceptual framework that can be used to evaluate previous empirical work and point to promising avenues for future inquiry. The purpose of this chapter is to delineate a potentially valuable approach to the scientific study of spatial cognition and behavior in elderly adults, with particular emphasis on the spatial tasks that confront them in the course of their daily lives. Fundamental to this approach is the proposition that meaningful research in this area should be based on an understanding of real-world situations, that is, psychological events in their ecological context.