IMITATION - MODELING AND ENHANCEMENT EFFECTS

The observation of a model performing responses may facilitate the reproduction of those responses by Ss as a function of observing those specific responses (a modeling effect) or as a function of simply observing a performing model (an enhancement effect). To investigate these two components of the modeling stimulus, one group of 5-year-olds observed a model manipulate stimulus objects and then was given an opportunity to play with those objects; a second group played with the same objects after observing the model manipulate different objects. A significant modeling effect and a significant enhancement effect were obtained. Although the magnitude of the enhancement effect was small, the results indicate that a precise assessment of the modeling effect requires an enhancement control condition. © 1969, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.