Methodological issues in studies of imitation: Comments on McKenzie & Over and Koepke et al.

Abstract

This paper examines two studies that fail to find evidence for neonatal imitation. The studies are flawed in ways that would serve to obscure genuine imitation effects. These flaws include: (a) inappropriate stimuli, (b) inadequate videotaping techniques, and (c) insensitive scoring and analysis procedures. We suggest ways the authors could have increased the sensitivity of their studies, and highlight interesting trends in the authors' own data that they prematurely discount.