We welcome kids ages 0-10 years old to participate in our studies! Below you will find some general Frequently Asked Questions. For more detailed questions on how each lab runs their studies please visit the Lab for Child Development FAQs page or the LIU Lab FAQs page, respectively!
For Parents
How will you protect my child’s information?
All information for both you and your child is kept confidential. We care about protecting your privacy; information like your name, your email, child’s name and birth date will never be shared beyond our lab.
Can I bring my child’s siblings to the in person studies?
Yes! If we have any studies available for them, we are happy to have them participate. Otherwise, we also have our fun lab playroom where we provide toys and friendly baby-sitters (typically Johns Hopkins undergraduates).
What does a typical study look like?
Each study differs depending on the age of children being tested, and the question the study is asking. Generally, each study runs around 15 minutes. Online studies will involve your child watching a fun video, listening to a story, or playing a game with a lab member over Zoom; in- person studies often involve showing your child a puppet show, or playing a simple game with a lab member. The things we measure range from how long your child looks at what we show them, or searches for toys we hide, or answers questions we ask. Kids usually find our studies fun, and parents get to learn about child development!. Linked, you can find more details on how LCD or LIU Lab conduct their studies.
What do I gain from participating?
You will have the opportunity to interact with real scientists who are passionate and informed about how your child makes sense of the world. You and your child will be helping advance the understanding of how children learn and develop. We will also give small prizes and gifts including: gift cards, books, T-shirts, or toys as a token of our gratitude.
How do I get to the lab? Is parking available?
We provide free parking for parents and will meet you in the parking lot to escort you and your child to the lab. We are located on the Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University. For your convenience, click here for directions and a map!
What happens if I have to cancel/reschedule?
You will receive emails confirming your appointment that will include links to cancel or reschedule; if possible please let us know if you can’t make it ahead of your appointment!
Where can I learn more about each lab?
You can learn more about each of our labs at their respective websites! Please find more information on the Laboratory for Child Development and the Look, Infer, Understand Lab linked.
For Students
I’m interested in joining the lab as a research assistant. How can I do that?
To join the lab as an undergraduate research assistant, you can apply directly to either the LIU Lab or the Laboratory for Child Development. Please note that each lab has its own application process.