Who can participate in the study?
Families with children aged 3-5 years are invited to participate in the study.
Where will the study be?
The study will be at CSU Stanislaus in Turlock. Please look at the maps link for more information about study locations on campus.
When will the study take place?
We work around your schedule. Your first visit is often in the late morning or early afternoon, though it can be in the evening if that works best for your schedule. The second visit is often in the early evening as the whole family must come. Let us know what works best for you!
What will I be required to do?
Families will be asked to come to campus twice, for about an hour each time. The first time will be for an assessment of your preschooler and the second time will be for playtime with the whole family (all parents and all children who live in the home). Also, a set of questionnaires will need to be filled out at home by each parent in your spare time. Questionnaires should take about an hour for each parent to complete.
What do we get for completing the study?
Upon completion of each phase of the study, you receive a gift card to Target or a similar store. You receive:
$40 for completing the child developmental assessment
$40 for completing the family visit
$20 for completing 2 sets of questionnaires
So, in total, you receive $100 in gift cards for completing the study.
Is your study safe?
Yes! The study takes place in a safe spot on campus. Either Dr. Pedersen or one of the trained research assistants will be with your child for the duration of the study. You will be either with your child, or sitting in the next room during the entire visit. Most children and families have a lot of fun during their visit! You and your child will never be asked to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, and you can withdraw from the study at any time. Our study has been approved by the university's ethics board, which ensures that all research is safe and appropriate for participants.
What are some activities my family will be asked to do?
During the first visit, your child will be asked to do puzzles and answer questions in order to evaluate how they think and reason. During the second visit, your family will be asked to do activities together like playing with toys, completing a puzzle, building a block tower, or drawing together.
My child has special needs. Can we still participate?
Yes! We are especially hoping to recruit families of children with developmental disabilities. We require that your child uses at least single words to communicate (even if this is inconsistent). We also require the your child is able to walk, and can use his or her hands well enough to do things like put a puzzle together. Please contact us if you have any more questions.
I am not the child's legal guardian. Can we still participate?
We require the child's legal guardian to be present during the study. This may be their biological parent, adoptive parent, or other family member who has legally adopted the child. We cannot accept foster children or children who are not living with their legal guardian at this time. Please contact us if you have any more questions.
My spouse isn't sure they want to be involved in the study. Can we still participate?
We require all family members who live in the home to come to your second visit. This means you, your spouse, and all your kids must be present at the family visit. We are happy to answer any questions or address any concerns your spouse might have! Feel free to contact us!
English is not my first language. Can we still participate?
We require all family members (except infants) to be fluent in English. You must also agree to speak English with your family members during your entire visit, including during all tasks. Please contact us if you have any more questions.
I have two (or more) children in the study's age range (3-5 years). Can I get paid double?
No. If you have more than one child aged 3-5, we will randomly pick one child to be the "focal child."