The effect of filmed modeling on cooperative play in disadvantaged preschoolers

In a series of three studies wer investigated the effect of filmed modeling on cooperative play in disadvantaged preschoolers. These studies were conducted both in a natural (classroom) setting and in a laboratory setting. We were unable to demonstrate a reliable modeling effect with these preschoolers even when an extensive descriptive verbal component was added to the modeling film. In a fourth study we showed that the identical treatment did lead to modeling in middleclass preschoolers but that the content of the extensive verbal component was not related to the effect. These results are discussed in terms of appropriate control procedures for this type of study, the role of an audio component in modeling films, and the implications of the lack of filmed modeling effects for the teaching of disadvantaged preschoolers.