We invite you and your child to be a part of our research! Our studies are for children between the ages of 3 and 12 and we would love for your family to participate!
In our lab, we are interested in learning about how young children make sense of their social world and develop social preferences. In our current work, we are investigating how children think about people they have never met before, as well as whether activities such as reading children’s books may help promote positive relationships between children at school.
If you are interested in participating, head over to our sign up page so we can contact you about studies for your child!
Frequently asked questions about participating in our research:
Q: What might my child be asked to do in a study?
A: Studies in our labs vary depending on the child’s age and the topic of the research. We always provide parents with a specific study description before scheduling an appointment. In a typical study for preschoolers, we might show pictures of different people and ask children with whom they’d like to play. All of our studies are presented as games, and most children enjoy participating.
Q: Where do the studies take place?
A: Most of our studies take place online via Zoom. If you are eligible for a particular study, we will send you an email inviting you to sign up for a time that works for you and your child. You will participate from the comfort of your own home.
Q: What do I do while my child is participating?
A: We are really interested in your child’s independent responses. We know that children are very influenced by their parents and so we typically ask parents to leave the room if they are comfortable doing so. If you are not comfortable with that, that’s fine!
Q: What do I get for participating in your research?
A: We will typically pay you $10 for your participation in our research. Some studies may differ, but we will let you know up front if the compensation will be different.
Q: How do I reschedule or cancel my study appointment?
A: You can reschedule your appointment by emailing us at carelab@wfu.edu.
Q: Will I receive information about my child’s development in the study?
A: Our studies are designed to answer questions about children’s development as a group, rather than focusing on any individual child’s development. In general, there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to respond in our studies. We are simply interested in how children think and act at different points in development. We periodically send out a newsletter to parents whose children have participated in our research. Additionally, you may email us at any time to receive information about any of our research findings.
Q: How will the findings from this research be used?
A: The results from our studies are typically published in academic journals where they are read by other researchers and educators who are interested in children’s social development. Additionally, research findings from developmental psychology labs like ours are sometimes used to inform policy decisions concerning children’s education, health, and care. We never release or publish information about specific children; instead, we describe the responses of children as a group. Your child’s participation and responses are completely confidential.
