Imitation in EMR boys: model competency and age.

The effects of model age and competence on the imitation behavior of 80 EMR 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. In addition, the models engaged in four different kinds of off-task social behavior. The results indicated that the boys imitated the off-task social behavior emitted by high-competent and peer models more than low-competent and adult models. In addition, 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, and we concluded that EMR boys should be exposed to competent models, especially peers, who emit a repertoire of adaptive behavior.