Complejidad de la tarea, demora de ejecución y comportamiento imitativo1

Abstract

Complexity of task, delay of performance and imitative behavior. Complexity of performances and delay-period has been considered as relevant variables when people behave according to the model's behavior, however variability and methodological problems concerning these variables are involved in the research literature. The present study evaluates four imitative conditions depending of the number of components (differentiated as simple and complex) and the period between the implementation of the model's behavior and the subject performance (30 minutes and 48 hours). Conditions were: simple-30 min., simple-48 hours, complex-30 min., and complex-48 hours. Each condition was implemented with ten subjects through four different tasks. Results show a low level of imitative behavior with more variability with respect to the delay-period than the type of performance. Results are discussed according to the type of rule-governed behavior involved in the experimental conditions and the probable history with each task, as well as according to a more or less discriminative function of the defined as relevant components in the four tasks.