This study examined primary school children's haptic perception in Sri Lanka. The researcher tested 62 children aged 6-7 years using objects developed by Jean Piaget to assess shape recognition through touch. Most children (95%) could identify common objects. For geometric shapes, recognition rates decreased from 75% for simple symmetrical shapes to 67% for complex symmetrical, 55% for asymmetrical with straight sides, and 48% could not identify topological forms. The findings provided partial support for Piaget's theory of haptic perception stages in young Sri Lankan children.
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A study on Primary School Children’s Haptic Perception
1. A study on Primary School
Children’s Haptic Perception
ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA
6th Annual Research Conference
T.Mukunthan
Dept. of Early Childhood and Primary Education,
Faculty of Education
The Open University of Sri Lanka
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4. Introduction (Continue..)
Haptic perception
• the way a person can gain
information about his or her
environment through touch.
• It involves skin sensors and
receptors in other parts of body like
muscles, which recognize sensation
such as pressure. 4
5. Introduction (Continue..)
• These work together to send signals to
the brain, which interprets them to form a
representation of the environment for the
person to understand.
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6. • Psychologist Jean Piaget conducted study
about children’s haptic perception.
• He noted that,
‘…with stage II we encounter the beginning of
recognition of eucliden shapes, based on
distinction between straight and curved lines,
angles different sizes, parallels and especilly
on relations between equal or unequal sides of
figures…
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7. Research Problem
• Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory is
one of the theories which has tremendously
influenced pre-school curriculum worldwide
(Case 1993, Dockett, 1995) and Piagetian
perspective is very relevant in teaching
mathematics in the primary school today
(Kamii, 2004)
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8. The idea of hapitic perceptions also included in
the Pre-School and primary mathematics
syllbi.
the present study has attempted to identify
applicability of children’s haptic presented in
his theory to Sri Lankan Context.
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10. Methodology
Instrument
The similar instrument which Jean Piaget used
his experiment used in this study.
Child was placed before a screen behind which it
feels objects handed to it.
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11. • By following this procedure rather than
the conventional one of placing objects
beneath a table, the experimenter can see
the methods of tactile exploration
employed, knowledge of which is vital to
the study of the results.
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15. cardboard cut-outs of Geometrical
shapes
A. Simple and symmetrical
B. More complex but also symmetrical
C. Asymmetrical but with straight sides
D. a number of purely topological forms
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16. cardboard cut-outs of Geometrical
shapes
(A) Simple and symmetrical
Circle, ellipse, square, rectangle,
rhombus, triangle and cross
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17. (B). More complex but also
symmetrical
(B). More complex but also symmetrical
Star, cross of Lorraine, swastika, simple semi
circle and semi circle with notches along the
chord
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19. (D). a number of purely topological forms
irregular surfaces pierced one or two holes,
Open or closed rings and two intertwined
rings.
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20. Findings
OBJECTS PERCENTAGES
Common Objects 95%
A. Simple and symmetrical 75%
B. More complex but also symmetrical 67%
C. Asymmetrical but with straight sides 55%
48%
D. a number of purely topological forms 20
21. Findings
• Most of the children in 6 can identify the
common objects easily
• ,54% of children identify the simple and
symmetry geometry shapes,
• 41% those identify More complex but also
symmetrical of geometrical shapes and only
• 5% identify Asymmetrical but with straight
sides: trapezoids with various sides type
geometrical shapes
• nobody could not identify ) a number of purely
topological forms.
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22. Summary
• Introduction
• Research problem
• Methodology
• Findings and Discussion
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