Children are both shrewd about whom to copy--they selectively learn from certain adults--and overimitators--they copy adults' obviously superfluous actions. Is overimitation also selective? Does selectivity change with age? In two experiments, 161 two- to seven-year-old children saw videos of one adult receiving better payoffs or more bystander…

Background: Whereas research has indicated that children with Down syndrome (DS) imitate demonstrated actions over short delays, it is presently unknown whether children with DS recall information over lengthy delays at levels comparable with typically developing (TD) children matched on developmental age. Method: In the present research, 10…

Observational learning is the process used to explain the acquisition of novel behaviors or performance of previously acquired behaviors under novel conditions after observing the behavior of another person and the consequences that follow the behavior. Many learners with autism do not attend to environmental stimuli at a level sufficient to learn…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tasks that require delayed discriminations such as delayed imitation and delayed matching to sample on acquisition of skills using video modeling. Twenty-nine participants with an ASD diagnosis were assessed on a battery of tasks including both immediate and delayed imitation and…

Studies investigating imitation are usually conducted with adult models in Western contexts; therefore, the influence of cultural context and the model's age on infants' imitation is largely unknown. This study assessed deferred imitation in 9-month-old infants from the German middle-class ("N" = 44) and the ethnic group of Nso in rural…

This paper addresses several issues concerning the nature of imitative acts and the conditions under which they take place. These issues include: (1) the separation of imitative acts from reinforced behavior; (2) the separation of true imitative acts from reflexive acts; (3) the separation of imitative acts from acts which normally have a high…

This study investigated the effect of two independent variables on the sharing behavior of children. The results indicated that both observing a model share and longer ownership of the item facilitated sharing in these children, although the latter was originally hypothesized to retard sharing. (Author)

Fifteen mentally retarded (mean age 13 years), 15 learning disabled (mean age 9 years), and 15 normal (mean age 8 years) boys were equated on mental age, administered the Hagen Central-Incidental Task, and presented a modeling tape for imitation. (CL)

Some determinants of affectionate behavior in young children were explored. Experiment 1 demonstrated that children who imitated a male model who was nurturant were nurturant. Experiment 2 demonstrated that mere participation without imitation of nurturance and imitation of neutral physical contact was not effective in inducing affectionate…

Examines school personnel smokers' reports on how they would feel if a no-smoking ban was instituted on school premises. Results show that the 59 respondents from 14 schools were interested in quitting smoking, but did not favor a policy prohibiting smoking on campus. Discusses smoking influences on students and other issues. (RJM)

Describes how children in rural Venezuela are trained in agricultural skills by the extended family. The highly organized training encourages play and exploration as important elements in familiarzing children with implements and methods of food production. It is suggested that rural school planners draw ideas from the rural family's educative…

Only recently have imitation researchers turned their attention to the effects on the model of being imitated by observers. This report outlines and reviews the findings of research in the developing paradigms. Four paradigms into the effects of being imitated are examined briefly: (1) operant strengthening paradigm; (2) classical conditioning…

This pilot study explored the characteristics of children's co-inquiry with a mentor and the changes occurring in their questioning with prolonged engagement in mediated inquiry. Six graduate students, who were practicing teachers, acted as mentors to individual students for inquiry into child-selected topics for 10 weeks. Children ranged in age…

Investigating the effect of age and temporal placement of a modelled skill on performance of a balance task of 60 boys (seven and nine years old) indicated significant effects of age, temporal appearance of the model, and an interaction of model by age for time on-balance. (Author/PN)