Protocol Analysis and Spatial Behavior

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Abstract
Protocol analysis is introduced as a method for studying human behavior within geographic structures. Protocol analysis has been used extensively by researchers within the fields of psychology and artificial intelligence. First, the main features of the method are outlined. The emphasis is laid on the general aspects of the approach. Next, the value of the approach for studying covert processes is discussed. It is argued that protocol analysis is best suited for non-routine problem solving tasks. Protocols do not seem to provide reliable information about routine behavior. It is argued that the concepts of ‘frames’ and ‘scripts’ provide a framework for studying this kind of spatial behavior. This discussion is followed by an example of how protocol analysis has been used to study the cognitive processes that underlie spatio-temporal decision making. This example, originating in the cognitive psychology literature, is reinterpreted from a geographical viewpoint. Finally, the step from protocols to computer algorithms is discussed.

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