Imitation Theory

Question 1

Who supports this theory?

Answer 1

Skinner (1957)

Question 2

What did Skinner believe?

Answer 2

Repeat what they hear
Caregivers reward children’s effort with praise
When correcting mistakes, reinforcement is used by repeating the word.

Question 3

Research to support the theory

Answer 3

Skinner tested on rats and pigeons - tested reinforcement

Pronunciation

Question 4

Pronunciation

Answer 4

Children acquire the accent which their parents have. However when they start going to school their accents may change as they mingle with their peers.

Question 5

Rats and Pigeons

Answer 5

Skinner tested reinforcement
Positive: press button to get food
Negative: electric shock given, stopped when button is pressed

Question 6

What to look for in data

Answer 6

Adults correcting children; modelling or teaching language
Children mimicking and imitating adults speech
Children correcting mistakes

Question 7

Arguments against the Imitation Theory

Answer 7

Children are not rats or pigeons
How do children create their own words and errors if they only learn from imitation? (overgeneralisation)
children don’t always respond to correction