Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do you get the names of potential participants?
A: We demonstrated to the State of Tennessee that our research is informative, and above all else, safe. The state then provided us with the birth records of some 25,000 children born in the Nashville area in recent years. These records are kept confidential and are never shohared with outside individuals, agencies, or companies. We also advertise with flyers on campus and on the Kennedy Center Study Finder.
Q: What do you do with the results of the research?
A: Our research results are presented to other psychologists who study children at professional conferences and are submitted for publication in academic journals such as Child Development. Children are never identified by name in these reports, as they focus on what children as a group do in the research tasks. The research has also been reported in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Newsweek, and on television news programs. The research may have implications for early childhood education and give insights into the thinking of very young children.
Q: Can I bring siblings along on the day of our research appointment?
A: Yes! When you schedule your appointment, a research team member will inquire as to whether any additional children will be with you on the day of your visit. If so, we will have extra research assistants available to entertain the children that aren't participating in the study.
Q: How is the lab opperating under COVID-19 guidelines?
A: We are conducting online studies that you can participate in from the comfort of your home over a secure Zoom video chat link. For the safety of families and research assistants, we are not currently conducting in-person studies.
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns about my child's development?
Cognitive and Social Development:
Vanderbilt Center for Child Development
Phone: (615) 935-0287
Email: ccd@vanderbilt.edu
Language Development:
Vanderbilt Bill WIlkerson Center
Phone: (615) 936-5016
Email: kate.carney@vanderbilt.edu
Gifted Children:
Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth
Phone: (615) 322-8261
Email: pty.peabody@vanderbilt.edu