Are you the parent of a 3.5 to 4-year-old child interested in participating in an exciting, paid research study on how children learn language and understand words? We are actively recruiting young participants for a new 5-year study at The Ohio State University’s Cognitive Development Lab!
We are currently in the process of conducting a 5-year National Institutes of Health-funded longitudinal study on semantic and language development, specifically focusing on how children learn new words and understand their meanings. Our goal is to not only examine language learning but also how these processes evolve as children grow.
In this study, we will follow two hundred 3.5 to 4-year-old junior scientists as they participate in fun, interactive word-learning and language activities. Over the course of the study, participants will visit our lab twice a year, each lasting around 60-90 minutes (including breaks), to engage in a series of playful games with a research assistant designed to explore how children comprehend and retain new vocabulary. Additionally, your child will have the opportunity to wear a LENA recorder—a small, wearable device that tracks the number of words your child hears throughout the day, similar to a Fitbit but for words!
At each lab visit, participants will enjoy fun activities and earn a variety of stickers and monetary compensation for their time, starting at $25 and increasing up to $40 per visit in later years. Parents will benefit from free parking in the Neil Ave Garage during each visit.
Understanding how children learn language is crucial for informing educational practices, both at home and in schools. By participating in this study, you are helping us uncover valuable insights into how to best support children’s learning and development.
If you are interested in enrolling your child or learning more, please contact us at (614) 292-3427 or email us at languagedevelopment@osu.edu.
OR Fill out our qualtrics survey to have one of our research assistants reach out with more information: