Final answer:
The phrase that should complete the statement is 'manipulation'. Under the plain touch doctrine, an officer cannot manipulate or grope an object to identify it as contraband during a legal pat-down; the officer must immediately recognize the item as contraband without additional manipulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the 'plain touch' doctrine in the legal context, specifically within Fourth Amendment jurisprudence. Plain touch/feel does not permit any manipulation or groping of the object in an effort to identify it as contraband.
When an officer legally pats down a suspect for weapons and feels something they immediately recognize as contraband, without manipulation, it is lawful under the plain touch doctrine to seize the item.
Any additional manipulation to determine what the object is would exceed the bounds of this doctrine and potentially violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.