Determinants of visual attention and recall in observational learning by preschoolers and second graders

Asked 72 preschoolers and 72 2nd graders (equal numbers of boys and girls), who had observed a male or female model choose his "favorites" in a series of common object trios, to recall the model's choices. All Ss individually witnessed the procedure under a fixed level of distraction, under informed or uninformed instructions, and under 1 of 3 vicarious consequence treatments (reward, neutral, and punishment). Ss' overt visual attention to the modeled activity and their recall were analyzed. Results indicate (a) highly significant correlations between attention and recall, (b) a facilitation of attention and recall with informed instructions, (c) a facilitation of attention and recall under vicarious reward and vicarious punishment treatments only under uninformed instructions, and (d) an increase with age in relevant overt attention and recall. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).