Variables controlling generalized imitation in preschool children.
Item
-
Title
-
Variables controlling generalized imitation in preschool children.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9207089
-
identifier
-
9207089
-
Creator
-
Kymissis, Effie.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Claire L. Poulson
-
Date
-
1991
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Psychology, Behavioral | Psychology, Experimental | Psychology, Developmental
-
Abstract
-
The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which the generalized imitation paradigm applies to the vocal imitation of preschool children. Five normally developing male preschool children between 3 and 5 years of age served as subjects in a multiple-baseline across-subjects with an embedded repeated-reversal within-subjects experimental design. The multi-response apparatus used was a computer screen that displayed a five-paneled table top, with each panel containing a colored push button. The children's non-reinforced preference for Matching versus Non-Matching vocal responding, Listening, and Waiting during baseline conditions was compared to the children's non-reinforced preference for the same activities during the reinforced-imitation conditions. It was found that for three subjects the introduction of the reinforced vocal imitation condition in the middle panel resulted in a systematic increase of the side-panel matching choice, but not of the other three choices. The results support the conditioned reinforcement hypothesis regarding generalized imitation. To the extent that generalized imitation has been demonstrated to be a functional response class, it is a robust concept in the account of the acquisition of language and social skills in children.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
