Evaluating the Use of Tactile Shapes in Associative Learning for People Who Are Blind

Autor/inn/en	Gupta, Richa; Mannheimer, Steve; Madhusudan Rao, P. V.; Balakrishnan, Meenakshi
Titel	Evaluating the Use of Tactile Shapes in Associative Learning for People Who Are Blind
Quelle	In: Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 116 (2022) 4, S.496-506 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Gupta, Richa)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0145-482X
DOI	10.1177/0145482X221124867
Schlagwörter	Visual Impairments; Blindness; Stimuli; Foreign Countries; Special Schools; Geometric Concepts; Verbal Communication; Recall (Psychology); Associative Learning; Tactual Perception; Memory; Adolescents; Young Adults; Students with Disabilities; Indiana (Indianapolis) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Visual handicap; Sehbehinderung; Blindheit; Anreizsystem; Ausland; Special school; Sonderschule; Elementare Geometrie; Abberufung; Taktile Wahrnehmung; Gedächtnis; Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Young adult; Junger Erwachsener; Student; Students; Disability; Disabilities; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Behinderung
Abstract	Introduction: This work investigates if simple two-dimensional (2D) tactile shapes can facilitate encoding, retention, and retrieval of associated information in the form of one-word labels. It also questions the need for the resemblance of tactile graphics with respective visual referents. Methods: Four experiments were conducted using recall tasks with verbal and tactual triggers. Students who are blind from schools for blind students in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) and New Delhi (India) participated in these experiments. Participants learned 12 shapes with assigned (two sets of) one-word labels categorized as consonant, dissonant, or abstract. Recall tasks were conducted after 1 week and after 4 months using verbal and tactual triggers. Results: The results of experiment 1 show that recall performance for consonant associations was higher than that for dissonant and abstract. Experiment 2 shows the recall performance using orally narrated verbal triggers, while experiments 3 and 4 use tactile triggers (both verbal and shape). Additionally, in experiment 4, the participants were observed recalling most associations after 4 months. Tactile verbal triggers (braille) invoked better recall accuracy as compared to tactile shape triggers. Discussion: The results and discussion with schema theory suggest that resemblance to visual referent (or similarity of tactile shape with real-life visual stimuli) is not necessary for learning associated labels. Additionally, simple 2D tactile shapes can support long-term retention of associated verbal information. The presence of primacy effect (better retention of first few associations) and distinctiveness effect (better retention of unique associations). Implications for Practitioners: The inferences of this work can influence the redesign of educational material and pedagogy for students with blindness by: (1) contributing to the development of a standardized set of symbols with associated meanings and using them for book annotation or indicating the genre of a graphic; (2) using simple tactile images instead of complex "visually correct" images. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01