IMITATION IN EMR BOYS - MODEL COMPETENCY AND AGE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 83  (4) , 360-366
Abstract
The effects of model age and competence on the imitation behavior of 80 EMR [educable mentally retarded] boys were investigated. Subjects viewed a videotape in which either an adult or a peer performed a motor task with either high or low competence. The models engaged in 4 different kinds of off-task social behavior. The boys imitated the off-task social behavior emitted by high-competent and peer models more than low-competent and adult models. High-competent models were imitated more than were low-competent models on the motor-skill task, but no significant age effect was found. The efficacy of modeling as an instructional strategy was discussed. EMR boys should probably be exposed to competent models, especially peers, who emit a repertoire of adaptive behavior.

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