We are indebted to all the wonderful Bloomington area families who participate in our research studies. Participation typically involves a one-time appointment averaging between 20-40 minutes. The appointment includes time for children to become acclimated to the lab before the study begins. Parents stay with their children throughout the visit and each experiment lasts about 10-15 minutes. Most experiments involve observing children while they play with toys or games, watch movies, or interact with their parent or an experimenter. We often record their behavior and sometimes their eye movements or heart rate or brain activity.
Upon Arrival: One of the members of the research team will meet you in the Fee Lane Parking Garage near the reserved parking spaces, then escort you through the courtyard and into the Psychology Building.
Siblings/child Care: Siblings are always welcome to join you in your visit. If you would like that sibling to participate in a study as well, we can contact the other labs in the Psychology Department to see if there is a study available. If not, or if you prefer that your other child not participate, childcare is available in our play room at no charge. We just ask that you notify us ahead of time to make sure that we have a staff member available.
Consent Form: Every study requires informed consent before it can begin. Your researcher will tell you exactly what to expect from the study, if the session will be video recorded, as well as any risks and/or benefits. Afterwards, you will be given a consent form to read and sign if you agree to participate.
Getting Started: Our lab has multiple rooms for studying infants - one is devoted to eye tracking and visual attention studies, one is used for studying children’s cognitive and social behaviors, and one is used for measuring brain activity while infants watch videos or live actors performing. Your researcher will escort you and your child into one of these rooms and get both of you situated - this could be in a chair in front of a computer monitor, with parent on a chair across from the infant who is seated in a baby seat, seated together across the table from a researcher, etc.
The Study: Each experiment typically lasts between 10 and 15 minutes for children. Infants will typically participate in only one experiment while toddlers and preschoolers may participate in two or more experiments. We have several different studies that we are conducting at this time. Click on Projects to see more. Even after a study begins, parents and their children are not obliged to complete it and may stop participating at any time for any reason. If your child is getting fussy and needs a break or needs to nurse/eat, we are totally sensitive to that and you need only say so.
Afterward: After you and your child finish participating (even if it ends prematurely), your child will receive a thank you gift for coming in - a small toy, book, or t-shirt.
Departing: You will be escorted back out to your car and given a pass that allows you to leave the parking garage at no charge.
| Interested in participating with your family? | |
| Frequently asked questions? |
Register by clicking the sign up button above, or contacting
Lauren Wade, Lab Coordinator
812-856-0814 or lcwade@iu.edu