Why is our research important?
The number of children who have to navigate the implications of multilingualism in the U.S. has increased, yet it is not very well understood how this affects the way that these children process their world. Our research aims to understand how bilingualism impacts the way that children learn as well as the relationship between their different linguistic environments and the neural connections that they form.
What will my child do?
Previously, during the pandemic, our lab operated our studies online using Qualtrics or by joining a Zoom meeting with a research assistant to watch a short video. Now, we’re launching some new and exciting studies that will take place in-person at the Sarah M. & Charles E. Seay Building (SEA), which is located at 108 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712.
We have a variety of fun activities that your child is sure to enjoy, such as watching short videos on an eye-tracker and playing games with our research assistants!
What is fNIRS? How does it work?
fNIRS stands for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, which is a neuroimaging device used to look at the superficial layer of the brain called the cortex. The way that fNIRS works is that it uses near-infrared waves via source probes to detect oxygenated hemoglobin activity in regions of the brain, which are detected via detectors. The information from a source and a detector are combined into channels to view the activity of specific parts of the brain cortex and the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin present in those regions during certain tasks.
What happens after my child participates?
Our lab will give you and your child a certificate thanking you for your participation as well as a compensatory gift, like a t-shirt or a plush toy. Once the results from our study have been published, we will send our paper to the families who participated.
How and when will my family be contacted for a study?
Our lab sends emails to parents who have shown interest in our lab and have children within the age ranges for our studies. After that, you may receive a phone call and a follow-up email!
Directions to the ChiLDS lab?
Our lab is located in the SEA building in the UT Austin campus. Directions are posted in our “Directions” subheading under the “For Parents” tab.
Do you pay people to participate in your studies?
Upon completion of our current studies, parents receive a small compensatory gift to express our gratitude!
What is participating in a study like?
At the beginning of all studies, we will explain all components of the study to you: from what your child will see or hear, to the technical elements of the study, if applicable (e.g., eye-tracking, wearing the fNIRS cap, etc.) After that, you and your child will be brought to one of our testing rooms, where you will meet our research assistants; you will not be separated from your child.
From there, things vary: Because we’re running multiple studies at the same time, you and your child’s experience will depend on which study you’ve signed up for. Some may be longer than others with our longest being 1.5 hours; some may be as short as 30-minutes. Some will be through Zoom; others will be in-person at the SEA building on the University of Texas at Austin campus. However, all of this information will be conveyed to you in our initial email. One thing in common is that most of the children enjoy the games!
Once finished, you and your child will receive a certificate and a compensatory gift, like a t-shirt or plush toy! Additionally, your parking permit is good for the day, so if you want to take your child to explore the campus, feel free to do so!