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Supporting STEM learning and STEM initiatives in our Ontario community and beyond is important to us at STEM Camp, so when the Child Development Research Unit (CDRU) at the University of Guelph reached out to us to help them with their research we were excited to support them!
STEM Camp’s role is to inform and invite families in our STEM Camp community to participate in the various research opportunities that are currently underway or about to begin at the University of Guelph. Read on to learn more about what critical research is happening, and how you and your family could be a part of it!
While the goal of each specific study varies, in general, the CDRU conducts research to identify the best ways to promote children’s safety. Currently, they have a number of studies that they are recruiting participants for. Some studies are conducted locally in the lab at the University of Guelph (and require participants to be in the Guelph area), while other studies are entirely online, so participants can be located any where in Ontario or even Canada. Following are details for each study.
With the At-home Safety Study, the CDRU is looking to speak with mothers of young children and learn more about their home safety efforts and the kinds of hazards their young ones get into when at home.
Looking for: 2-4 year old children and their mothers
Time commitment: 2 hours maximum, consisting of a 20 minute online interview, 20-40 minutes for questionnaires, 30-45 minute home visit
Incentive: $25 e-transfer for online portion and $25 gift card at home visit (up to $50 total)
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
The program for this age uses virtual reality to teach children how to judge traffic and cross streets safely.
Looking for: 7-9 year old children and their families
Time commitment: 3 sessions, 1.5-2 hours each for a total of 6 hours maximum
Incentive: $10 per session for participant, with a bonus $10 for completing all three sessions for a total of $40. Parent also receives a $10 gas card at the final session.
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
The CDRU would like to invite your child to participate in a virtual reality road crossing study that examines the factors that might increase children’s risk of injury when crossing the street.
Looking for: 8-10 year old children (cannot have participated in the Safe Peds program)
Time commitment: 2 sessions, each 1.5 – 2 hours in length for a total of 4 hours maximum
Incentive: $10 for their first session, $15 for their second session, for a total of $25
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
This research project uses a driving simulator (containing a real vehicle, in-lab) to study how teens’ driving is affected when having peers in the car and music is playing.
Looking for: 17-19 years old (must have a G2/G license)
Time commitment: 2 visits to the lab at the University of Guelph campus, for about 1-1.5 hours each, for a total of approximately 3 hours.
Incentive: Monetary compensation will be provided for each visit, for a total of up to $25.
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
For this study, the CDRU is recruiting adolescent skateboarders who have been injured while skating within the last year, for a research project on skateboarding and mental health. The aim of this research is to learn more about the relationship between skateboarding injuries and mental health in order to better support the psychological wellbeing of skaters, and to encourage skateboarding safety. Participation in this study involves a brief (45 minutes maximum) online survey that asks questions about how skateboarding influences mental health outcomes after injury, both positive (for example, the things skaters love and value about the sport), and potentially negative or challenging (for example, feelings of sadness or anxiety after getting hurt) as they recover from injuries.
Looking for: 14-17 year old children who experienced a medically attended injury (that is, they needed to see a doctor, physiotherapist, etc.) when skateboarding within the last year, who are living anywhere in Canada
Time commitment: 45 minute online survey
Incentive: $25 gift card
If interested, contact: skateboardingstudy2022@gmail.com
This online study investigates how pre-teens and teenagers negotiate safety rules with their parents as they are developing more independence, as well as looking at how parents negotiate these rules for their children within their own marital relationship. This study involves an interview, some questionnaires and some fun negotiation activities.
Looking for: Children 11, 12, 15 or 16 years old. Both parents must be living in the same house as the child, in Ontario
Time commitment: 1.5 hour online session
Incentive: Parents will receive a $20 gift card and the child will also receive a $20 gift card for participating.
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
This study seeks to learn more about how parents prepare their young children to cross streets safely and on their own.
Looking for: 5-10 year old children and their parents who are living in Ontario
Time commitment: 30 minute online questionnaire
Incentive: Incentive information to be provided upon inquiry.
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
This study interviews mothers and fathers to gather their impressions on strategies they use to educate children about safety, including if their teaching strategies differ for sons and daughters.
Looking for: 5-12 year old children and their parents, who are living in Ontario
Time commitment: 30 minute online questionnaire
Incentive: Incentive information to be provided upon inquiry.
If interested, contact: cdru@uoguelph.ca or 519-767-5033
In addition to gift cards received for participating in the various studies, additional benefits include: