Our research addresses questions like these:

What kinds of information do children learn from paying attention to other people's interactions?

Are children more likely to learn from some people than others?

Does experience with group situations influence how children learn?

How do we address these questions?

With your help! We ask you to bring your child(ren) to our playroom on the UCSC campus (located in the Social Sciences 2 building). We provide parking and detailed directions. A typical study involves only one visit that usually lasts about 30 minutes. Parents are in the room with their children at all times. Most families find a typical visit quite enjoyable.

Our studies are designed to be fun and engaging for children. Most involve playing with new toys and never involve any type of medical procedure. Our studies have been approved by UCSC's Institutional Review Board (IRB), a panel of university and community members whose job it is to ensure that all research involving human participants is safe and ethical. We work hard to make sure these studies are fun for you and your children and, after participating, most parents indicate an interest in participating in future studies.

If you would like to participate in our research, please register your 0- to 5-year-old child.