For Parents

What ages are you looking for?

We are currently looking for babies between the ages of 5 and 14 months, and toddlers between the ages of 30 and 48 months to participate in our studies.

What happens when I arrive?

Once you arrive at the lab, we'll spend a few minutes describing the studies your baby will be participating in and answering any questions you may have. Before the study begins, we will ask you to fill out an information form and sign a consent form.

What happens in the studies?

We currently have two different types of studies for infants.

In our "looking-time" studies, you sit with your baby in front of a small stage and watch events that are either enacted with puppets or presented on a computer monitor. In some cases, infants will be listening to sounds played through speakers mounted on the stage instead of watching visual displays. In both cases, we simply measure how long infants look at (or listen to) the different events. Although you will be able to watch (or listen to) the first part of the presentation with your baby, we may ask you to close your eyes (or wear earmuffs) so that you cannot accidentally influence your baby's looking preferences in the second part of the presentation. Of course, we will be happy to show you (or let you listen to) what your baby saw/heard in the second phase after the exepriment.

In our "choice" studies, you and your baby watch an experimenter hide different amounts of food in two cups. Once the food is hidden, your baby is allowed to crawl or walk to whichever cup s/he wants. If babies can tell the difference between the two amounts, they are expected to choose the cup that has the most food in it.

In our toddler studies, your child will participate in fun games designed to assess their early knowledge. For example, they may be asked to play counting games with a puppet or to keep track of how many objects are hidden in different locations. The games are designed to be fun, and children are always allowed to stop playing whenever they wish.

Will I be with my child the whole time?

Yes. Regardless of the type of study, you will always be with your child.

Can I bring my other child(ren)?

Absolutely! Siblings are always welcome. We have a play area right in the lab with educational toys and books and one of our team members will be available to play with your child(ren) while you and your baby are participating in the study. We do ask that you please let us know if you will be bringing other children when you schedule the appointment.

How long will I be there?

Studies involve a one-time visit that usually lasts no more than 30 minutes. The actual studies take only about 15-20 minutes for looking time studies and about 5 minutes for choice studies.

What if my baby gets fussy?

Most babies enjoy watching the presentations, however, we can take a break at any time if your baby needs to be fed, changed, or just cuddled. And, you can decide to end the study at any time with no questions asked -- just let us know.

Will I be paid for participating?

We do not pay our participants, but we do offer free parking in a reserved spot near our lab and your child will receive a small gift for their participation.

Are there any risks involved?

No. There are no risks whatsoever beyond those in daily life, and you are free to stop participation at any time.

Will you tell me how my baby did?

Since we are interested only in the performance of groups of babies, we do not give out individual results. However, we will send you a summary of the results of the study once it is completed to let you know what your baby helped us learn about child development!

How did you know to contact me?

Since the local hospitals are no longer fowarding birth announcement information, we have had to begin getting names from a commerical mailing list. If you would like to be removed from our participant database, just let us know.