Tactual Perception: A Sourcebook - and Practical Guide

In this review the focus is on who will gain the most from Tactual Perception: A Sourcebook and why it remains a useful reference more than four decades after first publication. The book compiles research on how hand and skin senses deliver information about the world, and its single biggest reason to buy is the breadth of topics covered: from tactual graphics and Braille to the perception of speech via the skin. For readers who need a compact, research-driven overview of tactual-haptic perception, this volume gathers diverse studies into a coherent sourcebook.

Key Features

• Comprehensive overview: Brings together numerous studies to provide a broad synopsis of what is known about touch and haptic perception.
• Applied focus: Discusses practical implications for education and rehabilitation of sensorily impaired children and adults, useful for practitioners and therapists.
• Specialized chapters: Covers tactual graphics, perception of speech via the skin, and Braille, offering targeted material for specialists in those areas.
• Interdisciplinary authorship: Contributions address psychological, educational, and social aspects of touch, making it relevant across fields.
• Historical perspective: As a work first published in 1982, it collects foundational research and viewpoints important for historical context and follow-up study.

Who It's For

This sourcebook is best for psychologists, students of perception, and professionals involved in the education of the blind and deaf who want a consolidated review of tactual research. It is especially helpful for those designing curricula, tactile materials, or therapies that depend on an understanding of how touch conveys information.

Readers looking for the latest experimental methods or recent empirical data should supplement this volume with current journals, since the book serves as a synthesis of earlier work rather than a report of contemporary studies. It is less suited as a step-by-step clinical manual and more as a reference text and conceptual guide.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide-ranging chapters deliver a multidisciplinary perspective useful for educators and researchers.
• Practical implications are discussed, making theoretical material accessible for applied work.
• Includes coverage of niche topics like the social significance of touch and production of drawings by the blind.

Cons

• As a volume first published in 1982, some material provides historical context rather than the most current findings.

Specifications

Title	Tactual Perception: A Sourcebook
Authors / Brand	William Schiff, Emerson Foulke
Primary topics	Tactual-haptic perception, Braille, tactual graphics
Audience	Psychologists, educators, students of perception
First published	1982 (original volume)
Uses	Reference text for education and rehabilitation of the blind and deaf

Our Verdict

Tactual Perception: A Sourcebook is a solid, state-of-knowledge reference for anyone studying or teaching how touch conveys information. It is particularly good value for libraries, graduate students, and practitioners who need an interdisciplinary compilation of research and practical implications, though readers should pair it with recent studies for up-to-date experimental findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover Braille and tactual graphics?
Yes, several chapters address Braille literacy and tactual graphics, examining production and perception by blind readers.

Is this volume suitable for clinical training?
It is most useful as a theoretical and reference text rather than a step-by-step clinical manual; clinicians should use it alongside practical training resources.

Will this book include modern experimental methods?
The book compiles research as of its original publication era and is best used for foundational context; consult recent journals for current methods.