Our methods
We are interested in finding out how children comprehend their surroundings, how they acquire language and how they interact with and learn from each other. At the KOKU we conduct short studies to shed light on these questions and we are always looking for parents and their children who are keen on being involved.
Since infants and toddlers are only just learning to communicate via language, we are using a number of non-verbal methods that allow us to investigate the child’s reaction to different situations and tasks. These methods help us to find out more about the child’s cognitive and social development. The following pages will introduce you to our methods.
In some studies, we are interested in the spontaneous, natural behavior of children when interacting with adults or peers (observation studies). In other studies, we design a game situation for the child, in which one of our researchers will play an exciting game with the child. From the child’s reactions to different choices or tasks within the game, we can learn a lot about their development (behavioral studies).
Another method of learning more about the cognitive development are methods that utilize physiological measures. The child watches short, child-appropriate videos on a computer screen while we track her eyes (eye tracking studies) or listen in on her brain activity (EEG studies).
We conduct studies in different social and cultural settings in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of human development. Our findings may also become the scientific base for early-intervention programs.
Your child’s data will always be stored in anonymized form. You can find more information on our privacy policies here.