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A VARIABLE INFLUENCING THE PERFORMANCE OF GENERALIZED IMITATIVE BEHAVIORS 1, 2
Author(s) -
Peterson Robert F.,
Whitehurst Grover J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1971.4-1
Subject(s) - psychology , reinforcement , developmental psychology , variable (mathematics) , imitation , test (biology) , social psychology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , biology , paleontology
This research attempted to demonstrate some of the conditions that would influence the performance of generalized imitative behaviors in young children. Two experiments were conducted. The results of Exp. I indicated that generalized imitative behaviors can be very durable; only one of three subjects was influenced by a variety of reinforcement‐like procedures. Control over the behavior of all three subjects was obtained when a setting event involving the presence or absence of the experimenter was systematically varied. A second test of this variable was carried out in Exp. II. Results showed moderate to strong control over non‐reinforced imitations in four preschool children.