ABSTRACT
If we look carefully at the progress of recent work on the development of spatial cognition, we can see a research tradition emerging. The tradition consists of basic concepts, models, techniques, and data sources. For example, many of the central ideas are built on the theoretical position introduced by Piaget (Piaget & Inhelder, 1967; Piaget, Inhelder, & Szeminska, 1960), a position subsequently elaborated and refined by Hart and Moore (1973) and by Siegel and White (1975). Without question, this tradition has served us well. It has generated a remarkable volume of interesting work in a relatively short period of time, and it has provided a comfortable context within which we can organize our teaching, research, and publishing. In short, there is a conventional wisdom emerging, one that is collectively subscribed to and tacitly accepted.
