AGE AND VERBALIZATION IN OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

72 4- and 7-yr-old children observed a filmed model perform relatively novel actions under 1 of 3 conditions induced verbalization (IV), free verbalization (FV), and passive observation (PO). Following the movie, Ss were asked to demonstrate what they saw the model do. It was found that: (1) older Ss in the PO condition showed higher performance than did younger Ss in the PO condition, (2) younger Ss in the IV condition showed higher performance than did younger Ss in the PO condition, and (3) there was no significant difference in performance between older IV and PO Ss. Findings are in accord with predictions based on the production deficiency hypothesis. Also, younger FV Ss performed at a higher level than did younger PO Ss and at a lower level than did younger IV Ss. Finally, older FV Ss showed lower performance than did older IV and PO Ss. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.