Neonatal imitation: Two failures to replicate

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to replicate two experiments in which neonatal imitation was reported. In replicating the first experiment tongue- and lip-protrusion, mouth-opening, and sequential finger movement were modeled for six 2-week-old babies. Judgments of which models the babies were probably watching and trying to imitate were made from video-tape records of their behavior. In replicating the second experiment mouth-opening and tongue-protrusion were modeled for 14 babies 17- to 21-days-old. Videotape records of their behavior were scored for frequency of imitative behaviors. In replicating the first experiment a potential for experimenter bias that was inherent in the procedure was eliminated and in replicating the second the reliability of the scoring procedure, limited to within scorer originally, was extended to include between scorer as well. The results of both replications failed to yield evidence of neonatal imitation and thus raise questions about the neonate's capacity to imitate.