Effect of Sex and Race of the Observer and Model on Imitation Learning

Abstract

The effects of sex and race of observer and model characteristics, verbal, motor and total numbers of imitative responses, were investigated within a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 4 repeated measures design which also assessed the effects of idiosyncratic model effects within each model characteristic. Analysis of the verbal imitation data indicated that Negro females imitated more than Negro males while white males imitated more than white females. Analysis of the motor and total imitation resulted in similar significant effects. In both cases, a significant race of S effect as well as an interaction effect between race of S, sex of M, and exposure trials was reported. In addition, an analysis of the motor imitation data yielded a significant race of S by team of model effect and a four way interaction between sex of S, sex and race of M, and exposure trials.