Measuring action understanding: Relations between goal prediction and imitation

Abstract

We explored the developmental course of goal prediction and imitation as two commonly used measures of action understanding. In particular, we investigated the relationships between the measures in two complex multistep actions (hammering and pulling action) in children between 12 and 30 months (n = 64) in a between-subjects design. The results showed that the prediction of an action goal was related to the imitation in the hammering action, but not in the pulling action. The results are discussed in the light of current theories on goal prediction and imitation.