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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
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Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
A variable influencing the performance of generalized imitative behaviors
1University of Illinois.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|April 1, 1971
Summary
Generalized imitative behaviors in children are durable and influenced by experimenter presence. Reinforcement procedures had minimal effect, but environmental changes controlled imitation.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Imitative behavior is crucial for social learning in children.
- Understanding factors influencing imitation performance is key to developmental research.
- Previous studies suggest reinforcement impacts imitative behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate conditions affecting generalized imitative behaviors in young children.
- To examine the durability of imitative behaviors.
- To determine the influence of environmental variables on imitation.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted with young children.
- Experiment I varied reinforcement-like procedures and experimenter presence.
- Experiment II further tested the effect of experimenter presence on non-reinforced imitations.
Main Results:
- Generalized imitative behaviors demonstrated significant durability.
- Reinforcement procedures influenced only one of three subjects.
- Experimenter presence systematically controlled the behavior of all subjects.
- Experimenter presence showed moderate to strong control over non-reinforced imitations in preschool children.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, specifically experimenter presence, exert substantial control over generalized imitation.
- Imitative behaviors can be highly resistant to change via reinforcement alone.
- Further research into environmental influences on child imitation is warranted.
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