Exploiting Your Kid for Science

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Technology Thursday

Back when my son was a newborn, we somehow got word of an infant and child media study that was looking for participants. It's part of the Georgetown Early Learning Project. I signed up. I'm all for science, after all. I think it's important. It's local. And best of all, they send the researchers to my house, so there's no travel involved.

Just this past weekend we participated in the third activity we've done so far since signing up. The first was just a questionnaire. The second was him, at around 6 months old, watching 5-10 minutes of video. And then there was this most recent one, a research project for which they needed kids his age. We're on file with them, so they emailed and I said, "Sure." The study has something to do with how kids in his age cohort perceive screens and things that happen on screens vs. real toys. At least that's as much as I could glean from watching and listening to what they were doing. He was part of a control group, and was only asked to interact with the toy. They videotaped his behavior with it.

Unfortunately, my kid was not cooperative. Oopsie. First, he had just woken up from a nap and was very bleary and not quite with it. The poor kid takes after his mother and just does not appreciate waking up from a good sleep. Then, of course, there were people he didn't know in the house. And they were both looking at him constantly. We tried to get him to wake up and warm up without being too obnoxious about it, but he was not really having any of it. So we finally got their toy out to see what he'd do with it.

Nothing. He just staaaaared at it. Now, he's not the most rambunctious kid on the best of days. Two strangers. A weird looking "toy" being shown to him. ..Aaaaaand... Nothin'. I suppose lack of interaction is still data. And he didn't run away from the toy or run away from it. (It was a bit of an odd-looking toy.) But still, I felt bad for the researchers. But, you know, that's science! Especially when doing research that involves young children.

However, all was not lost, at least from my perspective. During the course of chatting with the two researchers who'd come to the house. One of them mentioned babysitting. I said, "Wait, wait, you like to babysit?" And I scrambled off to find a pen and paper to jot down names and numbers. I still have not been allowed in to the Secret Mom Cabal that knows what all the best daycares and preschools are and where all the best babysitters are. We have been having a really hard time sorting out babysitting options and possibilities. But child development researchers? SCORE!!

Anyway, if any readers with young kids are in the DC Metro region and are interested in participating in this sort of study, I've included their generic solicitation below. Do it for science!

Dear Baby and Parents,

Have you ever wondered what your child is learning or remembering from different media sources? Here at the Georgetown Early Learning Project we are currently looking at how babies acquire and retain information from computers, books, television, and screen media.

Currently, we are looking for 6- to 36-month-olds and their parents to participate in a fun study.

Typically our studies involve: - Coming to your home for 1-2 visits lasting 15-30 minutes each.
o We come to you because home is where babies are at their best!
o We are available to come anytime- early morning, in the evening, or even weekends!

-Showing your child either a live or videotaped demonstration with any number of our fun toys.

-See if the child remembers the game at a later time (either the next day or a few minutes after)

If you are interested in participating or would like further information, please call us at (202-687-6988), email us at [email protected], or look us up on the web at www.elp.georgetown.edu. We will answer your questions, and hopefully arrange a visit!

Also, feel free to visit the NPR website at http://www.wamu.org/programs/kn/07/08/23.php#17202 to hear an interview with our director, Dr. Rachel Barr.

Comments

[Katherine]

I participated in this study too -- and my only complaint is that they promised to send me copies of my daughter's results and never did! (I even called twice to remind them.) I agree that it was fun and interesting to see the child development researchers at work. (And I'm sure TLG wasn't the first uncooperative toddler.)

[[email protected]]

This would be interesting. I had a friend in her 30s who used to sign up for tons of science experiments and she'd have to do quirky things throughout the day and go back and get her blood tested, etc. I guess she liked participating in history (or maybe the attention?) We don't have anything like this where I live (small town in southern Oregon)...