Research: Goals and Studies
What are the goals of your research?
What happens during a study?
Who can participate in the studies?
What will the study tell me about my child? Will I receive results about my child?
Participating in a Study
How do I sign up my child to participate in a study?
How long is a study?
Will I be with my child while the study takes place?
Does my child have to complete the entire study?
How many times will my child be asked to participate?
Can I bring other children (e.g., siblings)?
Directions, Parking, and Contact Information
Where do I go for a study?
Where do I park for a study?
Who should I contact for more information?
Research: Goals and Studies
What are the goals of your research?
Our goal is to explore learning in early childhood. In the first few years of life, children experience great changes in motor skills (e.g., reaching, crawling, walking) and cognitive abilities (e.g., learning, problem-solving). We are interested in what children learn as these abilities develop and how development affects learning and vice versa. We are also interested in how learning changes with experience and age. Because we grow and develop across the entire lifespan—not just in childhood—tracking how learning changes across infancy, childhood, and adulthood tells us a lot about the role of experience and age on learning. For example, what are some of the differences in learning between adults and children? How much of the differences can be attributed to differences in age or experience? What are some of the similarities between adults and children and why do they occur?
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What happens during a study?
There are several different ongoing studies for children. The studies are designed to be fun, age-appropriate “games”. For example, depending on the study, your child may navigate a walkway or room with an obstacle, watch a short demonstration (video or live) of a person talking or moving, or solve a problem using tools, actions, or words.
Please note that you will stay in the room with your child during the entire session, and that you or your child may choose to stop participating at any point during the study. All sessions are video-taped so that our research assistants can code the tapes for data afterwards. However, only the experimenters associated with the study will have access to the videos. You may request to see a copy of the tape.
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Who can participate in the studies?
Infants, children, and college students participate in our studies. We are always looking for participants!
What will the study tell me about my child? Will I receive results about my child?
Our studies are not designed to diagnose developmental disorders or test for intelligence or other abilities. They are designed to ask basic questions about learning and development in typically developing children. Therefore, we analyze group data only and we cannot tell you anything about your child’s abilities or intelligence. Children are never identified by their data or other information in our studies.You may request a copy of the study’s results. We are happy to send you the results after we complete a study, but please keep in mind that we can only tell you what typical children do in that study.
Participating in a Study
How do I sign up my child to participate in a study?
Typically, children are asked to participate in a study when they reach a certain age. For example, we may look for 17.0- to 19.0-month-old infants for a study designed for 18-month-old infants. To add your child to our calling list, please call us at 973-275-2483 or email us at childlab@shu.edu. If there is a study for which your child is the right age, then we will tell you about it and see if you’re interested. If you decide to participate, we will schedule a time that is most convenient for you and your child. Or, you may click here to submit your information through this website.
Adding your child to our calling list does not obligate you to anything at all. It simply gives us permission to contact you when your child is in the right age range for a study. You may decline our invitation for a study, or you may ask to be removed from the calling list at any time. We understand that parents are busy. We are grateful for any help with our research!
How long is a study?
Each session lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Most studies require only one visit to our lab. Occasionally, we have studies that require multiple visits. For those studies, we will clearly indicate the number of sessions during the scheduling process. You will always know the time commitment involved prior to choosing to participate in a study.
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Will I be with my child while the study takes place?
Yes, parents or guardians remain in the room with their children during the entire session.
Does my child have to complete the entire study?
Not at all. Participation is completely voluntary. You and your child are free to stop the study at any point, without any explanations.
How many times will my child be asked to participate?
Typically, each study requires only one visit. However, if you are interested in participating in more than one study, we will make sure to call you for future studies! Again, participation is completely voluntary and you may choose to be removed from our calling list at any time.
Can I bring other children (e.g., siblings)?
Absolutely. If you let us know ahead of time, such as when we schedule the appointment, we can provide a free baby-sitter for your other children during the session.
Our lab is located in the South Orange campus of Seton Hall University. When we schedule you for a study, we will give you detailed directions to the lab and email you a PDF file of a map and directions. Or, you can click here for the file.
Where do I park for a study?
We offer free parking close to our lab. When you schedule an appointment, we will tell you exactly where to park and how to get there. When you arrive for your appointment, we will meet you outside and show you exactly where to go. We will walk with you to our lab from the parking spot, and help you with any bags or strollers.
Who should I contact for more information?
We would be happy to address any questions or comments. Please feel free to contact our lab (973-275-2483, childlab@shu.edu) at any time. Or, please contact Dr. Amy Joh, director of Child Learning Lab (973-275-2709, amy.joh@shu.edu).