Toddlers' Responses to Strangers Research Study
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz are investigating toddlers’ reactions to meeting new people from familiar and unfamiliar racial backgrounds.
Fast Facts
Typically Developing (No Significant Medical Conditions)
Toddler Aged
16-36 months
Compensation
Provided
Conducted in
Santa Cruz, CA
Study Background
How do early life experiences influence young children’s responses to strangers?
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 16-36 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
Understanding how young children start to interact across racial lines.
This study explores how toddlers respond when meeting new people, particularly from both familiar and unfamiliar racial backgrounds. The goal is to better understand how a child’s everyday experiences influence their early ideas about race and social behavior.
Early childhood is a key time when foundational social attitudes begin to form. By observing how toddlers interact with unfamiliar adults of different racial backgrounds, researchers hope to learn more about how young children process social and racial cues. This work will provide insight into how early experiences with diversity shape a child’s developing worldview and may help inform future parenting and educational strategies.
Additional Information
We want to understand how toddlers’ daily environments influence the way they respond to people of different racial backgrounds. This research helps us learn how children begin forming ideas about race during their earliest social experiences.
Your child may be eligible for this study if they meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria For Your Toddler:
- Ages 16-36 months (1 year, 4 months – 3 years old)
- Typically developing (no significant medical conditions)
You and your child will visit our lab on the UC Santa Cruz campus for a one-time, 1-hour session. During the visit, your child will interact with two friendly adults while being gently observed and video recorded. Each adult will play with your child for a few minutes, and you’ll be asked to complete two brief surveys about your child’s daily life and social environment. Free parking is provided, and siblings are welcome in the lab space!
Yes! You’ll receive up to $30 for participating—$20 for your child’s visit to the lab, and $10 for completing the surveys. Compensation will be sent to you via Visa gift card by email. While we do not provide transportation, we welcome families from Santa Cruz and nearby areas including Capitola, Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos, Watsonville, Corralitos, Felton, Scotts Valley, Ben Lomond, Los Gatos, Pasatiempo, and Boulder Creek.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.