GENERALIZED IMITATION IN PRESCHOOL BOYS

The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which the generalized motor imitation paradigm developed by Baer and Deguchi (1985) applies to the vocal imitation of preschool boys. Five normall y developing male preschool children between 3 and 5 years of age serv ed as subjects. We presented the children with four choices: Matching, Nonmatching, Listening, and Waiting. Once we established a baseline p reference measure, we introduced reinforcement of imitation for a diff erent vocal response (color naming). The effect of this manipulation w as to increase the preference for matching for three of the five child ren. The results are consistent with the conditioned-reinforcement hyp othesis regarding generalized imitation. They are also consistent with previous research showing that not all children prefer to imitate fol lowing direct reinforcement of other imitative behavior. (C) 1994 Acad emic Press, Inc.