General Questions

• When are appointments scheduled?

  • At your convenience, and generally between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Weekend appointments are also available. When scheduling, we ask that you choose a time when your child will be most alert (e.g., after nap-time).

• Where are the Child Development Laboratories?

  • We are located in Gilmer Hall on UVa grounds, near the stadium. For directions and contact information please visit our CONTACT page.

• Can I bring along my other children?

  • Absolutely! If you bring along other children, a trained research assistant will be happy to look after them during your visit. If possible, we request that you let us know beforehand, so that we can make appropriate accommodations.

• Can I be with my child at all points during the visit?

  • Yes, for most studies you can observe your child through a two-way mirror or be in the room with your child.

• How many times will I be asked to bring my child?

  • Most studies involve a one-time visit, lasting about 30 - 60 minutes. However, many families choose to participate in numerous studies. If you’re interested in additional studies then we may contact you more than once. Families have the option of specifying contact date and period e.g. during summer months only or weekends only.

Study questions

• If my child is unhappy, can we stop a study?

  • If at any point during the study you or your child decide to discontinue, we will immediately stop the study. We understand that children may be experiencing a not-so-perfect day, therefore we ensure that all children leave the lab happy with a prize in tow. Children are welcome to come back and try another day.

• Where can I find more details about the studies?

  • Details of our studies can be found on individual lab pages. In addition, we publish an annual newsletter to keep families informed of our progress. You can find our old newsletters, as well as reports of our research that have appeared in popular media under the News section.

• Who makes sure that the studies are ethically appropriate?

  • All studies taking place in the Child Development Laboratories have been through a rigorous review process by the University of Virginia's Institutional Review Board, which consists of a panel of University and community members. This panel carefully evaluates proposed studies involving human participants before they begin (and at least once per year after initial approval) to ensure that the research is ethical.

• Will my child's data be kept confidential?

  • Rest assured, your child's data will be kept completely confidential and secure. Your child's name will never be used in any research report or related journal writings. Many of our studies are videotaped for research purposes. This allows us to keep track of your child’s responses and enables us to write down any comments made during the study. All videotapes are kept completely confidential and anonymous; your child’s name will never be associated with a video. Furthermore, unless we have your explicit permission, this videotape will only be viewed by researchers in our labs. Any study photographs or videos on the individual lab websites or Facebook page are used with parent consent.

Registration questions

• I have already participated in or been contacted for a study; do I need to register again?

  • If you have participated in any Child Development Laboratories’ studies, then you are already on our contact list. If you want to confirm this, please give us a call, send an email, or you may submit the registration form again.

• Our address or phone number has changed.

  • Please give us a call, or send us an email to help us keep our records up-to-date.

• I registered my child several months ago, but have not yet been called, why?

  • We study children between the ages of 0 to 12 years. However, most of our studies involve a particular age range, and we will contact you when your child falls within the right range for a study.

• I have friends with young children who may be interested. Can I refer them to you?

  • Absolutely! We very much appreciate all referrals. Please send them to our web site, or give them our contact information.

Development questions

• I have a concern about my child's development. Can you help?

  • We conduct basic child development research, and we do not offer individual evaluations. If you have any concerns about your child's development, we encourage you to contact your child’s pediatrician.

• Where can I find general information about child development?
  • American Acadmey of Pediatrics: https://www.aap.org/en-us/Pages/Default.aspx
  • Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/
  • U.S. Department of Education, site for parents: http://www.ed.gov/parents/
  • Blue Ridge Care Connection: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/patient-info/support-services/blue-ridge-care-connection
  • Act Early: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children: https://www.naeyc.org/

  • These links are provided for informational purposes only, and are not affiliated with the Child Development Laboratories or the University of Virginia.