Online Infant Development Study
Researchers at the University of Chicago are conducting studies to better understand how infants think about different aspects of people’s behavior.
Fast Facts
Infant is Between 12-20 Months of Age
Born at Full-Term (37-40 weeks)
Compensation Provided
Conducted Online
Study Background
Our researchers are conducting studies to understand how babies think about the different ways people use objects and behave morally.
In one study, we explore how infants perceive the way people from different language backgrounds use common objects like cups and hairbrushes. Babies will watch videos of actresses demonstrating correct and incorrect uses of these objects, helping us understand their expectations based on cultural differences.
In another study, we investigate infants’ reactions to fairness in sharing behaviors. They’ll watch videos of someone giving out food fairly or unfairly, sometimes with friendly or unfriendly interactions beforehand. This study aims to see if babies expect different sharing behaviors based on these social cues. We use webcams to track which scenarios catch babies’ attention and for how long, giving us insights into their early understanding of social interactions.
Parents’ contact information will be stored in a University of Chicago database, and they will be contacted for any future studies their child may qualify for.
Study Background
Our researchers are conducting studies to understand how babies think about the different ways people use objects and behave morally.
In one study, we explore how infants perceive the way people from different language backgrounds use common objects like cups and hairbrushes. Babies will watch videos of actresses demonstrating correct and incorrect uses of these objects, helping us understand their expectations based on cultural differences.
In another study, we investigate infants’ reactions to fairness in sharing behaviors. They’ll watch videos of someone giving out food fairly or unfairly, sometimes with friendly or unfriendly interactions beforehand. This study aims to see if babies expect different sharing behaviors based on these social cues. We use webcams to track which scenarios catch babies’ attention and for how long, giving us insights into their early understanding of social interactions.
Additional Information
You and your child may qualify for these studies if your child meets the following criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Between 12-20 months of age
- Born at full-term (37-40 weeks)
- No developmental delays
Our studies are conducted virtually via our partner platform LookIt which will allow you to take the study at home at our own convenience. Your baby will watch a series of videos administered through the platform with only you and your baby present.
Study 1: The purpose of this study is to better understand how infants expect other people will use common objects. We are interested in whether infants expect that people who speak different languages will use common objects like hairbrushes and cups similarly or differently. Your baby will watch a series of short videos of two actresses who first talk about the rainbow and then use a cup and a hairbrush in correct or incorrect ways. For example, sometimes your baby will see these actresses bringing the cup to their mouth and the hairbrush to their hair. At other times they will see these actresses bringing the cup to their hair and the hairbrush to their mouth. We will use your computer’s webcam to see which sharing event your baby chooses to look at and how long they look at them.
Study 2: In this study, we are interested in how babies expect other people will share with others. Your baby will watch several short videos of a person giving out items of food to two others. Sometimes the food distributor gives out the food in an equal and fair way or an unequal and unfair way. Sometimes your baby will also see the food distributor be friendly or unfriendly with the recipients of the food before giving them out. This is to see whether babies might have different expectations about how someone will share with people they like versus don’t like. We will use your computer’s webcam to see which sharing event your baby chooses to look at and how long they look at them.
Compensation of up to $20 is provided for participation.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
