Participate in Studies Online!
Do you have a child between 5- and 13-years-old? Are you looking for something fun to do while at home? We invite you to participate in our online child development studies!
Frequently Asked Questions
I tried to participate in a study and got an error message "Page Not Found". What should I do?
We're sorry about the inconvenience. Please try to clear your browsers history, cookies, and cache (instructions on how to do so can be found here). After clearing those, try to click the study link again. If that doesn't work, we recommend you try to access the studies from another computer, if that's available. If you need further assistance, we are happy to help via email (ucsbchildstudies@ucsb.edu).
Who are we?
We are a team of developmental psychology researchers who are interested in how children learn and develop. We run studies that are set up as research games - by asking children simple questions we can learn how they think about the world and how their thinking changes over time!
What will happen?
First, we will ask for parental consent - you will read information about the study and procedures, and provide verbal confirmation that you agree for your child to play the game. Then, your child will play a short research game in which s/he will see some pictures or movies of people and objects, and will be asked some questions. Your child will answer the questions by clicking on pictures or providing simple verbal answers. In some cases, there may also be a short survey for parents. The research game will be recorded via your webcam.
Where and when can I participate?
You can participate from your home (or anywhere with a laptop computer!) whenever it is convenient for you. You can find the study links on the left panel. Once you click on one, the game will launch.
Who can participate?
All children ages 5- to 13-years are invited to participate.
I have more than one child in this age range. Can they all participate?
Absolutely! We ask that each sibling will participate separately, and that they will not watch each other’s session in order to avoid any interference. Each study completion will be compensated with a $5 Amazon gift card.
What do I need in order to participate?
All you need to participate is a laptop or desktop computer with a Chrome or Firefox browser, reliable internet connection, and a webcam!
How long does it take to participate in a study?
Participation takes about 20 minutes, including parental consent and surveys for parents (if any). Participating is completely voluntary, so if your child gets bored or uncomfortable, you can stop the study at any time by simply closing the web browser.
Will I be compensated for participating?
Yes! You will receive a $5 Amazon gift card for your time. You will be asked to enter a valid email address during the research game in order to receive the gift card.
Why is the study video recorded? Who can see the videos?
We need to record the study to make sure that a parent is present to consent and to be able to go back to the video to look at children's verbal answers. Only members of the research team (e.g., graduate students) will have access to the videos. Videos are initially uploaded to a secure password protected server. They are then downloaded to a secure password protected lab computer within two days of your participation, and get automatically deleted from the internet. All information is confidential. We will not ask for your or your child's name, birthdate or other identifying information during the video.
What is the purpose of this research?
Your participation will contribute to shedding light on children's early social development. Visit our "Research" tab to learn more about our past studies!
Do you have a question we didn't answer? Please email us at ucsbchildstudies@ucsb.edu and we will get back to you!
