Reports on a study that examined the effects of modeling the writing process on preservice teachers' attitudes toward writing. An instructor modeled the role of teacher. After writing on self-selected topics, students revised, edited, and bound books and shared them with the class. Student attitudes toward writing became more positive from pretest…

A study was conducted to investigate the respective contributions of personal and social factors (initial competence and imitation of modeled responses) in children's observational learning of conservation. Subjects included 180 first-grade nonconservers from six schools attended by French-speaking middle class pupils. All subjects failed…

The psychoanalytic theory of identification and the cognitive-developmental and social-learning theories of imitation are briefly described. Pertinent empirical research in the following areas is summarized and critically evaluated: imitation in infants, observational learning, clinical use of modeling, and the relation of imitation to aggression,…

Five studies investigated the development of imitation in children 1-3 years old. Results indicated that children as young as 12 months possess the cognitive capability of translating a perception of an action into their own behavior, but imitation varies as actions requiring direct social commerce with the examiner are imitated less frequently…

Studies the impact that musical discrimination training which incorporates models and discriminator foils, as well as modeling and imitation, has on beginning instrumental music classes. Shows that musical discrimination can be developed using these methods. Recommends further study to find effects of discrimination training on instrumental music…

Compared in this report based on a dissertation are the tendencies of Chinese and Americans to conform to their own cultural norms. Background information is provided through a review of pertinent literature and a discussion of conformity and imitation. Three experiments used in investigating the degree of conformity and imitation in Chinese and…

Reviews literature on effects of being imitated and the social influence function of imitation, plus related literature on conformity from social psychology. Considers this research within a number of theoretical contexts, especially within the conceptual framework of effectance motivation. Suggests imitation may facilitate mastery and control of…

Presents guidelines for developing computer-assisted instructional materials that are based on theoretical instructional theories, including behaviorism; neobehaviorism (imitation and modeling); information processing; cognitive psychology; and learning styles. Guidelines highlight feedback and reinforcement, practice opportunities, sequencing,…

Points out situations in which teachers do not model constitutional principles. Urges that teachers practice democratic values in the classroom to help students learn the value of democratic principles and develop an appreciation for such principles. Recommends the brochure, "Constitutional Concepts for Future Teachers," to develop a…

Studied the imitation behavior of thirty 14- to 18-month-olds using peer and adult models in an elicited imitation paradigm. Indicated significant memory for 3-step behavior sequences both immediately after modeling and 1 week later compared with baseline performance. Found that children in the peer model group outperformed children in the adult…

Researched the effects of peer and parent drug usage on substance abuse by the adolescent. Found parent usage correlated with increased adolescent usage, as did parental attitude toward illicit substance use. Supports Kandel's theory of stages of substance use. Shows adolescent substance usage is learned, in part, by modeling and imitation.…

The study examined the effectiveness of videotapes showing cooperative prosocial interaction between models on the behavior of 6 female and 14 male severely emotionally disturbed withdrawn children (aged between 9 and 14 years old). An introductory review of the literature considers general modeling theory, variables of the modeling act and their…

This study investigated the effect of singing within the elementary school music classroom on (1) students' preference for one of two performances of the same song and (2) students' ideas of "correct" performance. Seventy-five third and fourth graders were concurrently involved in separate experimental groups. One group was taught to sing…

Cooperative education is a learning strategy that fits very well with basic laws of learning. In fact, several basic important learning processes are far better adapted to the cooperative education strategy than to methods that lean entirely on classroom instruction. For instance, cooperative education affords more opportunities for reinforcement,…

This ethnographic study examined one inclusive early-childhood setting over four weeks. Observations indicated that children with special needs regularly imitated behaviors, words, and skills of typically developing peers, more advanced peers with special needs, and teachers. Individualized interventions were regularly conducted within general…