Prabhakar, Grison, Lhuillier and Morgagn – L’EFFET «SCHÉMA» 2022

Description

This 4-page French research paper, authored by a collaborative team from SNCF, Université Paris Cité, and Université Gustave Eiffel, delves into the ‘schema effect’ – how public transport network maps influence residents’ cognitive representations of metropolitan areas. Presented at the 14th French-speaking Transport and Mobility Conference, this text-only document details a robust online study involving 1103 participants across Paris, London, and Berlin. It provides compelling evidence that these schematic representations significantly shape how individuals mentally map their cities, especially with prolonged familiarity and usage. The authors’ reputable affiliations and the large-scale methodology lend high trustworthiness to its findings. This paper is essential reading for researchers and professionals in cognitive science, urban planning, and transport system design, offering valuable insights into the interplay between designed information and human spatial cognition.