Exploratory procedures (EP’s) and their relationships to object-based knowledge were first described by Lederman and Klatzky for 18 blindfolded sighted graduate students. Distinct patterns of exploratory behaviours were found during a matching task for object properties (i.e. form, texture, weight etc.). Surprisingly, the experiment was never replicated with children or congenitally blind participants.
The current study is a partial replication of the Lederman and Klatzky experiment with blind and sighted children and adults. Children were included to study the developmental pathway of EP’s. Blind persons were recruited to study variations in EP’s in persons who depend heavily on tactile perception. The main goal was to look for qualitative and quantitative differences in EP’s between sighted and blind participants.
Four sets of replica-objects (texture, weight, volume, exact shape) were used with 15 congenitally blind adults, 15 sighted adults, 15 children with congenital blindness and 15 sighted children. All children attended mainstream education.
Prior knowledge of topic assumed: Low
Contains advanced technical content: No
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