Research Study -- The Neuroscience of Language Lab at The George Washington University

[wlucio09]

Language Studies at The George Washington University

Children seem to learn language effortlessly but also show interesting patterns not seen in adult language. At the Neuroscience of Language Lab at George Washington University, we examine such patterns to understand the brain mechanisms that underlie language development.

We are currently conducting studies with 3-to-7-year-olds that are looking at how accurately and quickly children of different ages remember and reproduce sequences.

All of our studies are designed to be short and fun for children. Our research staff will make every effort to make your visit comfortable.

Please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail] if you are interested in participating. We look forward to meeting you and your child soon!

Department of Speech and Hearing Science, GWU, 2115 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

[Anonymous]

What are the benefits of participation (other than contributing to scientific knowledge)? Will you be able to tell us anything about our child and how she/he learns?

[Anonymous]

Yes, what benefit (if any) besides contributing to science is there for the participants?

[wlucio09]

There are no known risks involved in this study and children will not receive any kind of compensation.

[SJS149]

Do the children/parents receive any kind of report/assessment? I understand that there is no compensation but am wondering about any other benefit.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP for continuing to try to get an answer from the researchers. It should have been clear from the other two questions that parents on this board are interested in finding out whether this will help their child in anyway by revealing things about how he or she learns.

It's really strange to me how the researchers did not answer the previous 2 questions. Has this study even been reviewed by an IRB?

[Anonymous]

I'm PP. Sorry I meant has the recruitment notice for this study been approved by an IRB? Seems like it doesn't even contain basic information that is usually contained in solicitations.

[Anonymous]

They have cross-posted in several forums. I asked two questions: how long will it take and do they cover the parking costs. They did not answer those questions either. I don't think I'm going to let them near my child if they don't have the competence or responsiveness to answer the few basic questions people have asked!

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/334253.page#4121876

[Anonymous]

Oh for god's sake. If you are interested in the study, call the number and ask your questions directly! They probably aren't checking back on these sites.

[Anonymous]

From my experience in participating in similar studies, they don't involve any "benefit" for you and you don't receive an assessment of your child. They are conducted by graduate students and are for the benefit of the specific research/study. However, they are interesting and seem to be set up to be fun for the child.

[wlucio09]

Hello -- sorry, I should have clarified. We do in fact have IRB approval. The current study will take place in one session lasting approximately 15 minutes.

In terms of benefits, there is no direct benefit to you or your child. The benefit to society will be a better understanding of how children learn language. This knowledge may help in designing future treatment for children with language disorders.

Please contact the research team at 202-994-5210 or at [e-mail] for more information about possible travel reimbursement and any other questions or concerns you might have.

Thank you for your time.

[Anonymous]

If you want people to sign up, then you should give them something. I am not talking about money, I am talking about information. You should tell the parents whatever it is that you observed. I work in clinical research and think that the advancement of science is important, but come on!

[Anonymous]

Agree with previous poster. Am happy to help out with research but it would take half a day for us to go and come back and if they are not going to tell us more about what they observed it seems like a big waste of time.

[Anonymous]

I would also recommend that you come to kids' houses. We have participated in studies through Georgetown about how kids learn, an what makes it easy is that they come to us.

Like your study, we don't get anything out if it, but I'm still happy to participate because it's easy.

[Anonymous]

Sounds interesting to me. Seeing what seems to be relatively recent skyrocketing rates of speech delay/speech therapy for three year olds, I am VERY curious why this is happening.

Anything that might shed some light on this question, would be incredibly insightful. No one seems to care to address possible causes.