Take part in our research in Birmingham Babylab
Are you expecting a baby? Is your baby under 5 years of age? Do you want to take part in infant research?
Each of our studies is designed for babies of a different age. If you register your interest, we will contact you when your child is the right age for one of our studies to invite you for a visit to the Birmingham BabyLab. Our studies are short, fun games and for most families find them interesting and informative.
When we call you, we will explain the study, ask if you would like to take part, and arrange a visit time that suits you. Appointments normally last around an hour and you will be with your child at all times. You are under no obligation to take part just because you have registered with us. You can un-register at any time, without having to give a reason, just by emailing or phoning us.
When your child turns 5 your personal and contact information will be marked for permanent deletion, and we will purge information from the database once every quarter year.
F.A.Qs
F.A.Qs
How do I register with you and what does this involve?
We are always looking for new infants and children to take part in our studies. Please register with us using our online form. When your child is the right age for a study we are running, we will call you to explain the study and see if you are free to take part. You are under no obligation to take part if you’re too busy or have changed your mind. To find out more before volunteering, you can browse our webpages or contact us.
What is involved in taking part in a study?
We use a variety of methods in our research. Some studies involve playing a series of short games with your infant or child. Others involve showing videos or playing them sounds while we monitor where your child looks, or what is happening in their brain. All our studies are carefully designed as fun, child-friendly games. We will have plenty of breaks in testing and can stop the game at any point if your child does not wish to continue. The methods involved in each specific study will be explained to you before you agree to schedule a visit and also again on the day of your visit. We always make sure that we agree with you what your child will be doing before your visit.
Are the studies safe for my child?
The studies we run designed as fun games for your child. They are completely safe and have passed ethical approval by University committees, who report to national bodies.
Will I be with my child the whole time?
The majority of studies allow you to be present during testing. However, for some research this is not possible, although this would only be for a short period. We will always discuss this with you before you agree to schedule a visit.
How long will my visit take?
A visit will usually take between 30 and 60 minutes. We adapt our studies to the age of the infants or children who take part. This means that most of the studies consist of just one or two short periods, each lasting 20 to 30 minutes. We ensure that you are both settled in before we get started with a study, and we take time at the end to discuss what we have been doing. So a usual visit to the Birmingham BabyLab would take in the region of one hour.
What if we don't want to continue?
We aim to make your visit as interesting and enjoyable as possible. But we know that babies and children sometimes get bored, tired or just fed-up! Our basic rule is that you are able to decide to stop at any point, and this will not pose any problem at all.
How do I get to the Birmingham BabyLab?
The Birmingham BabyLab is located within the School of Psychology, in the Edgbaston campus. Precise directions on how to get here will be provided if you agree to take part in one of our studies.
Will I be paid for my time?
This will depend on the study and is something that will be discussed before any testing commences.
Can my other children come too?
We have a waiting area in the Birmingham BabyLab with comfortable seats, toys etc. where other children can be minded by one of our helpers. When we arrange your visit we will ask whether you will bring any other children with you in order to be able to make sure that they can have a good time too.
What facilities does the lab have?
The lab is designed with children in mind. We have a play area with toys: this makes children feel at home, and siblings can also play there while we are doing the study. We have baby changing facilities and we can provide tea and coffee for parents/guardians.
If you would like to be involved, please fill in our online form and one of our researchers will contact you as soon as we have a study available for your child’s age. If you prefer, you can send us an email at babylab@contacts.bham.ac.uk including the details listed above.