[BlindKid] FW: NOPBC - Research Participation Request: Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children

[dandrews920 at comcast.net]

The below research participant solicitation is being provided for informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our research mission.

 

Research Title: Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children

 

Being conducted by: Northern Illinois University

 

Purpose of the Study

The NIH wanted to fund this research because kids who are blind have been ignored by language development researchers. Almost all theories of language development claim vision is central to children’s vocabulary learning, and yet tens of thousands of blind children learn words perfectly well (as you know!). Our research is hoping to shed some light on this subject ”what strategies do children who are blind use to end up with an English vocabulary? What words do they know at different ages?

 

Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study 

There are two stages of the study. First, the family member will fill out a survey that includes demographic questions about their child (e.g., age, race, gender); questions about their visual impairment (cause of blindness, how often they read braille); questions about their language use (e.g., do they mix up words or misunderstand jokes); and questions about their outdoor activities and experiences (e.g., how often do they play outside or go hiking). The family member will be asked to upload a copy of the latest reading screener report provided by the child's school (we provide instructions on how to obtain this).

 

The survey takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.  At the end, the family member will sign them and their child up for a virtual Teams session with a member of our research team.

 

The second stage of the study is the Teams session. This lasts about an hour. During it, the child will: (1) have a brief getting-to-know-you conversation with the team member; (2) complete a multiple-choice vocabulary task; (3) answer questions about how they think they learned the words they know; (4) take a phonological processing assessment; and (5) share their feelings about nature.

 

After the Teams session, Lindsay Harris will email the family an Amazon gift card for $250.

 

Proposed Participant Compensation

Yes, After the Teams session (Stage 2), Lindsay Harris will email the family an Amazon gift card for $250.

 

Link or Instructions for Participants to Enter the Study 

To get more information and to sign up for the study, please go to the PenLab's website: 

https://www.niu.edu/pen-lab/participate/index.shtml

 

To go directly to the sign up and survey for families of blind children, please select the link below: https://redcap.niu.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=7R8K9E7RDFWWEM7M

 

Contact the following individual with any questions 

Lindsay Harris

3093383716

lharris3 at niu.edu <mailto:lharris3 at niu.edu>