Effects of Complexity and Redundancy on the Tactual Recognition of Metric Figures

Abstract

An attempt was made to assess the influence of two information parameters, viz., complexity and redundancy, on the tactual recognition of metric figures by 24 sighted and 24 blind Ss. Four levels of complexity were used with random and Redundancy-1 forms. The stimuli were raised dots and standard braille values were employed for dot height and spacing. Efficiency of performance was measured in terms of both speed and accuracy of recognition. Although the results were in part dependent upon response measures, the following overall trends were noted: (a) efficiency of performance was greater in the blind than in the sighted Ss and for random as compared to Redundancy-1 figures and (b) speed and accuracy of recognition tended to decrease with increments in stimulus complexity. The data were interpreted as supporting central factors in form perception and as illustrating the need for close attention to the nature of performance indices employed in the study of the perception of form.