Methodological issues in studies of imitation: Reply to Meltzoff and Moore

Abstract

In reply to the comments on our failures to replicate the findings of neonatal imitation, we show that in spite of the fact that new items of procedure were brought forth as a basis for questioning the sensitivity of our methods, there is evidence both in terms of results and methodology that the replication procedures were sensitive. It is also pointed out that as possibilities for experimenter bias were present in the procedures of both the original studies, the failures to replicate them, especially with controls for such bias, suggest that experimenter bias is a critical issue in interpreting the original results.