No abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of training blind students in shape recognition accuracy and speed and accuracy of locating shapes on a tactile map by using a distinctive features analysis strategy and line tracing. In Experiment 1, training significantly improved the shape-recognition performance of a group of 25 trained braille readers, as compared to a matched group of 25 untrained braille readers. In Experiment 2, 21 trained students (as compared to a matched group of 21 untrained students) showed a significant increase in the number of shapes located and a significant decrease in the average time to locate a shape on a tactile map. Results are discussed in terms of the critical importance of training blind students to be analytical, systematic, and complete in exploring tactile materials so as to ensure adequate development of their perceptual-conceptual abilities.A series of studies investigating the effects of stimulus parameters and methods of exploring shapes (Berld, 1972; Berla, 1974; Berld & Murr, 1972) found that tactual shape discrimination performance was quite poor by blind children in grades 1-6. Three, striking observations were made concerning the blind child's inspection of tactile shapes. First, many of the children failed to completely explore the entire tactile shape, and many inspected only a small portion of a shape. Second, the overwhelming majority of the students had no systematic method for exploring shapes. Third, some subjects did trace the entire shape, but did not appear to realize at what point on the shape they had begun tracing and at what point on the shape they had completed their tracing.

Examines the design of tactile political maps by constructing two experimental maps having either a broad raised line or a broad incised line. Performance on these two maps was compared with performance on a thin raised line map (control), which is typically found in braille books. The subjects were 72 braille readers in grades 4-12. Performance on the broad raised line map was superior to performance on the control map. Performance on the broad incised line map did not differ from performance on the control map.