Forty-eight white elementary school students, ages 6 to 10, received experimental treatments consisting of modeling and social reinforcement contingencies designed to influence their racial preferences. Social reinforcement significantly increased the modification of racial preferences during the treatments; modeling had a sustaining influence on…

Effects of instructions, modeling, and rehearsal in training college students in empathic communication were investigated. Analysis of responses indicated that improvement in empathic communication occurred for all training groups. Specific instructions appeared to be a critical factor in facilitating written performance. Modeling seemed to be…

The article presents techniques to improve the use of observers in group training activities where participants observe the exercises and provide feedback to the group. Four figures give guidelines for using materials and procedures with these techniques. (MF)

Discusses research on how television affects standards of conduct and behavior. Overall finding is that television is providing mostly innocuous behavioral models for emotionally disturbed children, providing support for the notion that emotionally disturbed children are less inclined than normal children to accept adult or authoritarian figure…

Two peer-imitation training procedures, each consisting of adult-delivered prompts and social reinforcement, were employed in two separate experiments to increase five retarded preschool children's imitation of their four nonretarded classmates' free-play behavior. (Author/DLS)

Performance of seven- and nine-year old children in a balance task was found to be similar when no demonstration was provided while initial demonstration improved the performance of both groups. Demonstration at an intermediate point in the task facilitated the nine-year-olds' performance but was detrimental to the performance of the younger…

Theories of imitation learning are examined regarding their account of how the infant acquires the ability to emit a response which resembles a response previously exhibited by another. The role of cognition in imitation learning theory is discussed. (BRT)

Studies the shifts in perspective that take place as young men move from the status of private citizens to that of probationary police officers. (Author)

Replicated a New York City study of completed suicides by persons 19 years old or younger, in metropolitan districts of Ohio, Texas and California, following broadcast of four fictional television films on suicide. Found the impact of movies varied by metropolitan area. Analyzed geographic differences in suicide response, emphasizing that…

Describes and illustrates how to make and use portable, lightweight tree stands for use as nature observation platforms. Offers conservation and safety precautions. (NEC)

A review of research on language handicapped, disadvantaged, and other children, indicates that incidental language teaching (natural unstructured interactions between adults and children and which allow adults to transmit new information and give children practice in developing communication skills) is a promising language intervention technique…

Discusses those persons (interdisciplinary professors and researchers) who served as models for the author's teaching/research and their specific contributions to his experience. (AEW)

Counselor trainees (N=6) were shown five videotaped segments of counselor-client interactions to determine whether differential levels of anxiety and recall occur during vicarious modeling or self-observation. Found a significant negative correlation between the physiological measure of anxiety and recall but no significant differences in the…

Using a yoked control procedure, kindergarteners either produced or observed interactions between pairs of toys. Children who performed rather than observed remembered the pairings over time. (ST)

Four-and seven-year-old children observed an adult, filmed model perform novel behaviors following social interaction with that adult. Other children viewed the film without social interaction. Children were then asked to demonstrate behavior. Seven-year-olds did better than four-year-olds, and a positive social interaction facilitated modeling.…