We conduct research year round, and currently have studies for babies between the ages of 2 months and 2 years.
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.
We currently have three 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, sounds will accompany the visual displays. We simply measure how long infants look at various events. Although you will be able to watch the first part of the presentation with your baby, we may ask you to close your eyes for the second part of the presentation so that you cannot accidentally influence your baby's looking to the displays. Of course, we will be happy to show you what your baby saw in the second phase after the session.
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 she 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 "exploration" studies, your baby will be seated in a high chair (or on your lap) and encouraged to touch different material substances (e.g., sand, water, puff balls). We videotape these interactions and later watch them to better understand how infants use their hands to explore and learn about the physical world. During the study, a trained researcher will ensure that your baby does not eat any of the materials. Although they are all safe and non-toxic, our researchers are trained to gently prevent your infant from putting the materials in their mouth. Parents are welcome to play that role if they wish, and sit next to their infant during the study!
Our studies for toddlers and children involve your child playing 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.
Yes! Regardless of the type of study, you will always be with your child.
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.
Most 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.
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.
Participants will be compensated for participating. Some studies involve monetary payments, and we offer free parking in a reserved spot near our lab. Your child will receive a small gift for their participation!
No. There are no risks whatsoever beyond those in daily life, and you are free to stop participation at any time.
Since we are interested only in the performance of groups of babies, we do not give out individual results. However, if you want to know what your baby helped us learn about child development, you can read about the findings of our studies in our newsletter.
We recruit participants in many different ways, including on Facebook, through advertisements in MU Info, and in person at local events like baby expos and festivals. We also go to birthing classes and lactation classes at area hospitals to find families that might be interested in participating.
Your contact information is kept confidential in our private database. Only the labs that comprise our research group (Drs. Groh, Luo, and vanMarle, directors) have access to the database, and it is used only for subject recruitment.
Email us! The lab director is happy to answer any questions you may have - vanmarlek@missouri.edu
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