In-person studies
Table of contents
with infants & children
Communication with Families
- Families may be emailed via DRDB and the lab email. Check the lab email frequently and respond to any emails in a timely manner.
- To call families, please use the phone in our lab space.
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Please ensure that communication with families is professional at all times. Be respectful when attending to their needs and answering any questions
- In the case that you do not have an answer to a question posed by a family, feel free to let them know that you will get back to them as soon as possible and seek guidance from another lab member who can provide an answer.
Prior to the study
- Send an email providing the address of the university and where the closest parking lots are in front of the Psychology Building.
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Inform them that they should park in front of the building and we will provide them with a free parking pass that they may put on their windshield.
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Ask the family to call the lab phone once they have arrived so we can send someone to meet them outside and guide them to our lab space.
- Please find out whether the family will be bringing any siblings.
- If another child will be attending, ensure that another experimenter is present to take care of the sibling. We have toys and books to keep the children busy.
When the family arrives
- Make sure to stay near the lab phone 5-10 minutes before the family is set to arrive so that we can answer their phone call letting us know that they are here.
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Greet the family in the lobby of the building and guide them to the lab space and bring the parking pass.
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Seat in the waiting area and thank them for taking the time to help us with our research today. You may offer the family water to help them get settled in. Please do not offer any other refreshments as we are not aware of any allergies or other conditions.
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Give the parents consent forms to sign before the study begins and answer any of their questions.
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Ask whether the family is interested in us taking pictures of their visit. If they are interested, please have them sign the consent form. If they consent, we may use these photos to decorate the lab space.
- Once the testing room is available and the consent forms have been signed, guide the family to the testing room. Flip the sign on the door to inform others in the lab that the room is being used for testing (this will ensure that you are not disrupted during the testing process).
Study
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Go through the study script. Make sure to familiarize yourself with this script in advance!
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Even if something goes wrong with the technology, continue to run through the study as we do not want to disappoint the family.
The Baby is Crying! What Do I Do?
The baby is in a new environment for the first time with strangers around. It is expected that the baby will feel uncomfortable.
It is important that as an experimenter you remain confident and in control throughout the study. Be friendly, smile, and assert yourself as a leader. Babies will pick up on non-verbal cues and if you lead with confidence they will feel more safe in the envrionment.
Allowing some time at the beginning of the study for the baby to get comfortable in the new space may also help.
Turn on the lights: Sometimes babies don’t like being in the dark too long and turning on the lights can help calm the baby.
Comfort the baby: Have the parent comfort the baby and bring some toys from the waiting area to see if you can distract the baby.
Pause the study: If the baby’s crying persists and it’s clear they are not able to continue participating comfortably, it’s important to pause the study. Tell the cargiver that they can take a break from the study and see if the baby calms down.
Communicate with the caregiver: Maintain open communication with the caregiver throughout the process. Inform them about the baby’s experience and ask for their input on how to proceed. Respect their judgment and decisions regarding the baby’s participation.
Offer rescheduling options: If the baby continues to be upset or uncomfortable, provide the parent with options to reschedule the study at a more convenient time. Be flexible and understanding, accommodating their needs and the baby’s well-being.
Debrief
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Debrief with the family after the experiment is complete. The debriefing period will be project dependent, but we may mention more about who we are, what we do, our general progress, as well as how their contribution will be used.
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If the family requests the results, let them know that we can provide the average results of the group, but are unable to provide specific data collected with their child.
Compensation
- Provide the family with their gift of choice after the study is complete and guide them back out of the building. Again, be sure to thank them for their time and contribution.
Timing
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Try to keep all meetings with the family within an hour. This is especially important to ensure that we can keep all appointments running smoothly and on time to respect others who may need to use the testing spaces as well.
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If they have questions that exceed their 1 hour visit, please let them know that you would be happy to answer more of their questions via phone or email.
- In the case that a family is late and you have to leave at a certain time, please communicate with others in the lab to cover part of the shift for you.
- Please be clear with the family that you must leave at a certain time during the study and that another lab member will be happy to step in for the remainder of their visit.
Family Accommodations
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If the family requires a space to change the baby’s diaper, direct them to the washroom on the 3rd floor.
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If the family requires a space to feed the baby in private, offer a closed space such as one of the testing rooms (double check that there are no cameras on). Please put a sign on the door indicating that no one may enter the room at the time.
Contingency Plan
- If you are suddenly unable to run a study that you are responsible for, reach out to other members familiar with the study to see if they are available to cover.
with adults
When the participant arrives
- Provide clear directions to the location of the building and direct them to go to the third floor. Ask the participant to call the lab phone or wait outside of the lab space for them to arrive.
- Ask the participant to fill out any required consent forms.
Study
- Go through the study script. Make sure to familiarize yourself with this script in advance!
Debrief
- Debrief with the participant after the experiment is complete. The debriefing period will be project dependent, but we may mention more about who we are, what we do, our general progress, as well as how their contribution will be used.
- If the participant requests the results, let them know that we can provide the average results of the group, but are unable to provide their specific data collected.
Compensation
- After the study is over debrief with the participant regarding compensation monetarily or in the form of sona credits.