Toddlers' Responses to Strangers
Researchers at the Diversity in Development Lab at UC Santa Cruz are investigating toddlers’ reactions to meeting new people from familiar and unfamiliar racial backgrounds.
Fast Facts
13-24 Months Old
Typically Developing
Compensation Provided
Conducted in Santa Cruz, CA
Study Background
How do early life experiences influence young children’s emerging ideas about race?
In this study, we are investigating toddlers’ reactions to meeting new people from familiar and unfamiliar racial backgrounds! Participation involves a 1-hour one-time visit to our lab, located on the UC Santa Cruz campus (in Social Science 2 building (Social Sciences 2, 712 College Ten Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064). Free parking is included and siblings are welcome! All families will receive up to $30 for their participation.
The study itself will take about 20 minutes, but we will ask for a 1-hour visit to make sure your child feels comfortable in the new space. We will video record as your child interacts with two adults, who will play with your child and offer toys. You as the parent will also be asked to complete two surveys, one demographic survey and one social network survey, so that we can better understand how the people your child sees in their daily lives relate to how they react to strangers from different racial backgrounds.
If you have a toddler aged 13-24 months, your child may be eligible to participate in this study. Help advance research by joining today!
UCSC IRB number HS-FY2023-23
Study Background
How do early life experiences influence young children’s emerging ideas about race?
In this study, we are investigating toddlers’ reactions to meeting new people from familiar and unfamiliar racial backgrounds! Participation involves a 45-minute one-time visit to our lab, located on the UC Santa Cruz campus (in Social Science 2 building (Social Sciences 2, 712 College Ten Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064). Free parking is included and siblings are welcome! All families will receive up to $30 for their participation.
The study itself will take about 20 minutes, but we will ask for a 45-minute visit to make sure your child feels comfortable in the new space. We will video record as your child interacts with two adults, who will play with your child and offer toys. You as the parent will also be asked to complete two surveys, one demographic survey and one social network survey, so that we can better understand how the people your child sees in their daily lives relate to how they react to strangers from different racial backgrounds.
If you have a toddler aged 13-24 months, your child may be eligible to participate in this study. Help advance research by joining today!
UCSC IRB number HS-FY2023-23
Additional Information
The goal of this study is to understand how young children start to interact with people from different racial backgrounds. This study will help us understand how early life experiences affect children’s developing ideas about race.
Your child may qualify for this study if they are:
- 13-24 months old
- Typically developing (no significant medical conditions)
This study will be in-person. Participants will come to our UC Santa Cruz campus for a one-time 1-hour visit.
Parents and children will come into a waiting space and then, after hearing about the study, go into a playroom. In this playroom, the child will have toys to play with and the parents will be asked to fill out two surveys.
After about 5 minutes, the first experimenter will come in and sit quietly for a few minutes and then bring out a toy to play with your child. After they play, the first experimenter will leave and a second experimenter will come in and again sit quietly, then bring out a toy to play with your child and then leave the room. After that, the two experimenters will come back into the room again and offer two new toys to your child. After your child selects the toy, they will play all together again for a few minutes.
After that, we will end the study and answer any questions you have.
Note: A sitter, nanny, or other caretaker can also bring the child to the study visit, as long as the parent or legal guardian sends the consent form beforehand.
You can receive up to $30 for participating in this study. You will receive $20 for your infant’s participation in the lab, and $10 for completing the surveys. Compensation in the form of Amazon and Visa gift cards will be provided through email.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
