For Parents
Help us learn more about how children learn language by participating in our studies!
About our studies
What we study: We study how children learn languages. We’re especially interested in why children seem to be better at language learning than adults are.
Who can participate: Children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years.
What participation involves: Each study is a little bit different! You can look at the studies below to learn more about what you and your child will be asked to do, how long it will take, and how you’ll be compensated.
Current studies
- Help Zooma Learn an Alien Language (6 & 7 year olds): In this study, your child will play a game on the computer. They listen to an alien, Zooma, say sentences in a new language. They will then rate how well Zooma speaks in her new language.
- Who can participate: 6 & 7 year old children who live in the US
- Time/Location: 30 minutes on Zoom
- Compensation: $5 gift card
- Sign up for this study!
FAQs
How do we participate?
Fill out our interested families form to let us know you are interested! We’ll reach out to you soon after to schedule an appointment.
What will my child do during a study?
Each study is a little bit different! You can look at the studies above to learn more about what you and your child will be asked to do, how long it will take, and how you’ll be compensated.
What if my child doesn't want to do the study?
No problem! We want our studies to be a positive experience for you and your child. If your child doesn’t want to do the study, or starts the study but changes their mind, you can stop participating at any time. You are always welcome to try again another day if you like!
Will my child have fun doing the experiment?
The games in our studies are usually enjoyable and engaging for kids! However, if your child feels that they would rather not play for whatever reason, that’s fine! We will never force them to complete the study.
How will my family be compensated?
We will send your family an Amazon gift card! Usually, these gifts range from $5 to $15 depending on the length of the study. If you prefer Paypal or Venmo, we can pay you that way instead.
Do I need to print and sign the consent form?
No! We’ll send an electronic version of the consent form when you schedule an appointment! We will also send it ahead of time so that you can view it before you decide to sign up for the study.
Do I need to be present during the study?
For in person studies, once the study is set up, parents can leave the room and hang out in the lab or simply stay nearby. The only thing we ask is that the child completes the study on their own. For online studies, Parents can stay close by, or leave the room if they prefer. The only thing we ask is that the child completes the study independently. Our researcher will stay on the Zoom call the entire time to help your child with the study.
Will my child be recorded?
At the beginning of the study, the researcher will ask the parent for permission to video record. This recording is used to check that the study procedures were followed and will only be viewed by researchers in the lab. If you would not like your child to be recorded, that is fine, just let the researcher know at the beginning of the study.
What happens to the data?