We investigated developmental changes in the level of information children incorporate into their imitation when a model executes complex, hierarchically organized actions. A total of 57 3-year-olds and 60 5-year-olds participated, watching video demonstrations of an "artificial fruit" box being opened through a complex series of nine different…

We present three studies exploring 2- to 4-year-olds' imitation on witnessing a model whose questionable tool use choices suggested her untrustworthiness. In Study 1, children observed the model accidentally select a physically optimal tool for a task and then intentionally reject it for one that was functionally nonaffordant. When asked to…

Imitation of people on educational television is a potential way for very young children to learn new skills. Although toddlers in previous studies exhibited a "video deficit" in learning, 24-month-olds in Study 1 successfully reproduced behaviors modeled by a person who was on video as well as they did those modeled by a person who was present in…

Effects of modeling and contingent praise on infant's motor response topographies were experimentally analyzed. Three male 10-month-olds showed systematic increases in targeted training and probe response topographies after introduction of the modeling and praise treatment procedure. Thus generalized imitation with infants was demonstrated. (RH)

Assessed whether the effects of vicarious reinforcement and observational learning were maintained and controlled by contingencies of reinforcement among six Japanese preschool children. Findings suggest that some effects of vicarious reinforcement and simple modeling were not maintained without direct reinforcement. (RH)

Infants averaging 5 weeks and 12 weeks of age were presented with object models and a live model to determine whether infants reliably responded to the models with movement-matching facial gestures. Object models produced no reliable elicitation of gestures, but the live model increased the incidence of gestures among infants of five weeks. (SH)

The effects of age, modeling, tuition, and sanctions on self-control of motor behavior were examined among children 6, 7, 9, and 11 years of age. Among the results, activation latency and inhibition error were influenced most by the actions of the model and the introduction of a negative sanction, and less by tuition. (Author/RH)

Investigates how the experimentally manipulated sincerity of models affects their influence, by using a delay-of-reward paradigm. Subjects were 40 fifth and sixth grade children. (MP)

Assesses children's responsiveness to adults of both sexes as a function of the adult's behavior. Among the results, children showed a greater responsiveness to the same-sex adult in the collaboration condition and to the cross-sex adult in the praise condition. (Author/RH)

Shows that whether one is the target or the observer of imitation, one is attracted to the imitation over the nonimitator. Subjects were 80 first and second graders. (MP)

Analyzed effects of modeling and contingent praise on infant imitation of three responses: motor-with-toy, motor-without-toy, or vocal. Found a systematic increase in the percentages of training and probe models matched by the three 12- to 14-month-olds following introduction of model-and-praise treatment conditions. Nonmatching responses did not…

Describes research on young children's long-term memory under 2 conditions of acquisition: direct imitation followed by a 10-minute delay, or deferred imitation. Children were able to encode and retain as much from visual pickup of modeled acts as from feedback obtained through imitation. (Author/GH)

In one condition, infants were presented with tongue protrusions and mouth openings modeled by an adult. In another condition, these gestures were simulated by objects. Infants in the first condition reproduced the gestures at significant levels, but infants in the second condition did not. Findings indicate that imitation is a social response.…

Describes a study of three infants whose parents presented vocal models for the infants to imitate. Parents presented vocal models both with and without social praise. Infants showed systematic increases in matching after praise was introduced. Nonmatching vocalizations did not increase with introduction of praise. Findings demonstrate generalized…