Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Wayfinding Effectiveness Scale

Abstract

This study evaluates three versions of the Wayfinding Effectiveness Scale (WES), developed to differentiate problems of wayfinding and wandering behavior of community-residing elders with dementia (EWD), in 266 dyads (EWD and caregiver) recruited from Alzheimer's Association chapters. Factor analyses yield a five-factor solution (explained variance = 62.6%): complex wayfinding goals, analytic strategies, global strategies, simple wayfinding goals, and being stimulus bound. Overall, internal consistencies are high: WES (.94-.95), and subscales are stable across all versions. Testretest reliability is acceptable for the overall WES and two subscales (complex and simple wayfinding goals) for the care recipient current behavior version. Construct validity is supported by the pattern of correlations among subscales and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) showing significant differences among the care recipient (current vs. prior behavior) and caregiver versions overall and for all subscales. Results support the WES as a valid and reliable measure of wayfinding effectiveness in persons with dementia.

Risk assessment of wandering behavior in mild dementia

“…Mean scores for each domain and a total score of all domains are recorded, with lower scores indicating greater wayfinding deficits. The scale has a good test–retest reliability ( r = 0.78–0.82) and overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 (Algase et al , ). In our study, the Cronbach's alpha was 0.96.…”

Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Way‐finding Effectiveness Scale for Persons with Dementia

“…Spatial disorientation refers to a person’s inability to denote a spatial imaging within a cognitive map (Passini 1984) and can result in wandering behaviour (deLeon et al. 1984, Algase et al. 2007).…”

“…Some studies report that the concept of way‐finding is a complex process, which enables one to navigate in the environment (Passini et al. 2000, Algase et al. 2007).…”

Servicescape navigation

“…Wayfinding is process encompassing four tasks: landmark identification, direction selection, path selection, and environmental abstraction. Algase et al, (2007) Psychology "Wayfinding is a cognitive process that requires information from the physical environment and from the knowledge base (cognitive map) of the wayfinder" (p. 1017) Apelt (2008) Management Wayfinding includes the following three interrelated processes: a) decision making or development of action plan; b) decision execution or transformation of decision (or action plan) into behaviors, and c) information processing or perception and cognition of environment. Farr et al, (2012) Social science "Wayfinding is the process of finding your way to a destination in a familiar or unfamiliar setting using any cues given by the environment" (p. 716) Montello and Raubal (2012)…”

“…In other words, they have to improve (human) wayfinding. Wayfinding can be defined as the process of finding in the shortest time possible the way to reach a certain destination in a familiar or unfamiliar setting using any cues given by the physical surrounding (e.g., Farr et al, 2012;Algase et al, 2007;Fewings, 2001). Accordingly, all spatial information that people can acquire in the physical environment is indispensable in helping them to find their way, given that wayfinding is a "purposeful, directed, and motivated movement from a current to a desired destination, which cannot be directly perceived by the wayfinder" Winter, 2002, p. 244 mentioning Allen, 1999).…”