Testing Procedure for Researchers
Set-up
o *Be in the lab a MINIMUM of 30 minutes before the baby is due*
o Make sure you have a helper available to babysit siblings and support the study.
o Check the appointment to see which study you are running, and what the setup is.
o Technical setup:
o Turn on all experimental equipment required by the study.
o Quit all extraneous programs on experimental computer.
o Determine the study order for the baby.
o Set up study on experimental computer. Test that it is working properly and make sure it is “ready to go”.
o Adjust lighting levels in study room.
o Have music on mp3 player ready to go, and check the volume in parent’s headset.
o Remove any extra objects from the testing room. No distractions!
o DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING!
o Develop and use a study checklist tailored to your study.
o Gather visit package for the helper including parking pass.
o Memorize baby & parent’s names, and baby’s gender. Determine the likely language you will need to speak to the parent.
o Ensure that playroom is clean and tidy.
When parent(s) and baby arrive
o Have somebody waiting at doors near parking lot 15 minutes before scheduled arrival time with parking pass in hand. The other experimenter should wait in the lab in case the parents call and need directions or want to cancel the appointment at the last minute.
o What to do if parents do not arrive:
o Wait an extra 30 minutes after scheduled appointment time.
o At this point, call them to check that they are not lost, or that nothing else has happened.
o If they have an answering machine leave this message: "Hello, this is __ (your name) __calling from the Concordia Infant Research Lab, we had an appointment today at 10 o’clock and I just wanted to make sure that everything is ok and that you did not get lost. If you would like to reschedule, please call us back at 514-848-2424 x.5831. Thank-you!"
o Once the parents have arrived, welcome them to the Concordia Infant Research Lab (mention Dr. Krista Byers-Heinlein - and if Krista is around while you are talking to the parents, be sure to introduce her as the director of the lab). Always use the parent’s preferred language (English or French).
o Be as warm and friendly as you can and use the baby and parent’s names! Take some time to admire the baby and establish a positive rapport with the parent(s).
o If it is the parent's first time at the lab (you can tell from the visit sheet), take a bit of extra time to tell them a little bit about what goes on in the lab.
In the playroom
o The primary experimenter interacts with the parents while the helper plays with the child. Some children are shy so they may choose to stay with the parents for a little bit. Usually, they warm-up quickly and want to play with our toys.
o Explain the study rationale to the parent:
o Explain that there are two equally important parts of the study: the baby’s part which is short (little attention spans) and the parent’s part to fill us questionnaires to answer questions we can’t ask the baby directly.
o Provide an explanation for the baby’s part of the study - "Many studies at the lab are about word learning - this study is asking ___(general research question)___."
o Some background information might be interesting to the parent - but don't overload them with information. Remember to speak in plain terms - the average person doesn't know what a term like “habituation”, “priming”, or “lexicon” means. Don't just memorize your explanation; changing it a little each time ensures that you always have a ‘personal touch’ with the parent.
o Explain the study procedure (it is a study and NOT an experiment):
o Your baby will sit in your lap and watch a TV screen/computer monitor while hearing some sounds or words
o You will not be able to hear or see what baby hears - you will be wearing headphones and/or darkened sunglasses so that you don't influence your baby's reactions
o If study uses the eye tracker: We will measure your baby’s reaction using a special eye tracking camera built into a computer monitor. If they ask, explain that it uses low-level invisible light (much less powerful than the lights in the room). First we will calibrate the system to your baby’s eyes, and then we will measure his/her reactions.
o We will record your baby's face to see his/her reactions to the images and sounds he/she is exposed to throughout the period of the study.
o Explain the parent’s role:
o Try to be as neutral as possible. We want to see the baby’s own reactions.
o Try to keep the baby centered on your lap as much as possible (explain limits of the particular equipment/camera).
o Do not talk at all to your baby (but you can smile at him/her).
o Do not point during the trials. However, you can encourage the baby to face the front when the attention getter (flashing light or ball) is on the screen. When the attention getter is on, please get your baby back in your lap or secured in front of camera, or the next trial won't start.
o Mention that they can stop the study at any time by waving at the camera. But mention that you will also be watching to make sure everything is going normally.
o Tell the parents that there are no incorrect or wrong responses. We want to see what children do naturally.
o Ask parent to sign the consent form.
Knowing when and how to start the study
o Ask the parent if they need to feed the baby or change the diaper.
o Gauge when the baby is in the ideal state for the study. This will depend on the baby’s age- make it not too soon and not too late. Use your experience.
o Ask the parent to turn off cell phone etc.
o Determine if the baby must take a toy into the testing room. Generally this should be avoided (toys can be distracting), but can work wonders if it prevents the baby from fussing. If the baby brings a toy it should be small and not make any sounds.
o If both parents came to the visit (or other friends or family), only one parent should be in the testing room with the child, and the other parent can stay in the playroom.
o Parents can leave their personal belongings in the playroom as the door will be locked (always keep all doors shut during testing).
In the testing room
o Show parents the camera or eye tracker and explain where the baby can go in the field of view so we can still see them.
o Make sure the camera and any other distract elements (red lights, etc.) are hidden!
o Repeat that parents must do TWO THINGS - not talk or point at the screen.
o Put headphones on parent - check that parent is hearing music.
o Put darkened sunglasses on parent if the study setup requires it
o Leave and close the doors behind you.
Some testing tips
o If you have a baby who is a bit fussy, run the attention getter in between trials for a little longer; it sometimes quiets them down.
o Watch for the clever babies who 'deek' you out between trials! Sometimes a baby will look at the screen quickly and then look away. You may have started a new trial in the meantime - which means the baby starts a trial looking away. Make sure the baby registers a significant look at the screen before you start a trial.
o If the baby is upset, watch for a signal from the parent to stop the study. If the baby is really upset and the mom doesn't wave for you to stop, gauge for yourself whether you should continue. Sometimes the parents can't hear their baby crying because they are listening to music - so they don't know how upset the baby is. Use the sound on the video system to check.
After the study: With the parent
o "Every baby is perfect!" - Go into the testing room and praise the parent and baby! No matter what happens in the study, both parent and baby always did a super job! If it is obvious that the baby/parent have realized that the study was interrupted before it was complete – let the parent know that the baby was super smart and so the study ended quickly. If it is obvious that no data was gathered, emphasize that the questionnaires are an equally important part of the study.
o Bring the parent and baby back into the playroom.
o Say that we will send parents a newsletter to update them with the results of this and other studies.
o Complete all necessary questionnaires. If parent absolutely cannot stay to complete a questionnaire, either send them home with a physical copy in a stamped envelope addressed to us, or send the Web CDI link afterward. Make sure to follow-up within a few days to make sure questionnaire was sent back- coordinate this with staff.
o Give T-shirt (let baby choose color), lab newsletter, & certificate (recheck the spelling of the baby's name on the certificate with the parent), and THANK PARENTS again. If there is a sibling, you can give them stickers or small books.
o Reimburse parents if they incurred expenses to take the bus (both directions) or for some reason paid for parking. Make sure they sign a receipt.
o Parents and babies are ALWAYS welcome to hang out in the lab if they like; after an appropriate length of time you can always excuse yourself to "save results."
o Hand out brochure and check with the parents to see if they have friends who would like to participate. Feel free to also distribute other handouts, mention DPD lab, etc.
o Make sure that at least one experimenter walks back with the parents to the parking lot/entrance area.
After the study: When the family has gone
o Stop the mp3 player.
o Correct or update any information that needs it in the Infant Database.
o If the infant put any of the toys in his/her mouth, wash these in the sink and leave to dry.
o Tidy up the playroom and testing room.
o Write subject, study, etc (e.g. Prime24_S06_D12345) on every sheet of paper associated with the baby (all questionnaires, etc.).
o Score questionnaires as necessary. Do not wait to do this, especially for bilingualism questionnaire.
o Update study binder. This includes:
o Filling out participant information in participant list and “keepers” list.
o Including printouts of results where possible.
o Hole punching questionnaires and including them in the binder.
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