Current studies
Puzzles and Persistence
Who: Children ages 4–6
Time to Complete: 30 mins
Where: on-site, George Mason University - Fairfax
Compensation: $5 and a t-shirt for your child
Topic: Help us learn about how exposure to information affects children’s engagement on a puzzle task.
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Who: Parents of children ages 0– to 12–years
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Stop and go!
Who: Children ages 4 to 6 and their parents
Time to Complete: 15 mins
Where: online
Compensation: $5 Amazon e–gift card
Topic: Help us understand why children sometimes stick with a task and sometimes don't.
Completed studies
Let’s explore!
In this study, 80 local families helped us to learn about how children use social information to regulate themselves when exploring new toys. Data are currently being analyzed. We will share more information soon!
Let's draw!
In August 2023, over 120 families with 2- to 5-year-old children participated in an online study to us learn about what makes kids choose how they use effort in a drawing task. Data are currently being analyzed. We will share more information soon!
What kinds of activities at home support children’s executive function?
Between May and July of 2020, 93 parents and their 3- to 5-year-old children participated in our study to help us learn about the activities children are doing at home during the COVID–19 pandemic and how this might be related to their executive function (self-regulation) skills. This study is now published at Developmental Science!
Click below to read about what we learned!
How do children and adults respond to faces with and without masks?
In this study, participants viewed images of children’s faces (masked or unmasked), rated their cuteness, and estimated their age. Cuteness ratings and perceived age predicted how interested adults were in caring for children. While wearing a mask did not reduce adult interest in caring for children, they did weaken the relation between perceived cuteness and interest and between perceived age and interest. This study is now published at Scientific Reports!
How do children learn to write?
In this study, 3- to 6-year-olds and their families helped us to learn about the learning mechanisms supporting their understanding of how to correctly write letters and numbers! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
How do children feel about different sounds, images, and social actions?
In this study, we are exploring developmental differences in children’s judgements and preferences about everyday sights and sounds! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
How does social knowledge support executive function skills?
In this study, we explored how young children understand and use social information to engage their executive function (self-regulation) skills! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
How do children learn and use deductive reasoning?
In this study, we studied how children come to understand and use deductive reasoning and logic in their thinking across standard and play conditions. Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
Is that logical?
In this study, we explored young children's logical reasoning and how different contextual cues may affect their reasoning! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
What's in a face?
In this study, we explored how certain cues foster learning in early childhood! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
Make a guess: Does it sink or float?
Between July 2023 and May 2024, 109 parents and their 5- to 7-year-old children participated in our study exploring gender-science stereotypes in children and gender differences in persistence on a science task. This study is now under review.
Can you remember the numbers?
In this study, we explored children’s working memory and its relation to language, literacy, and numeracy! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.
Let’s switch things up!
In this study, we explored children's executive function skills, how they develop with age, and how they are related to other developmental milestones! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update.