Institute for Research in Child Development

'Learn about your baby' sessions

In partnership with Tower Hamlets and Newham we are organizing free ‘Learn about your baby’ sessions in your local children’s centre.

What is this project about?

We want to help you find out more about how your baby behaves, what it means and how this changes as they get older.
The "Take a Look Baby” (TALBY) study is studying how babies look at other people when they are talking and doing things.
We are using special new televisions and cameras that can show you exactly what your baby looks at when watching films showing other people.
We want as many parents as possible to come along to find out about their babies when they are 6-7 months old. We would also like parents to come back for a follow up visit when their baby turns 2 years.

What will happen?

Together with children’s centre staff we will meet you and ask you about the development of your baby and about your experiences and background.
First we will ask you and your baby to sit in front of the “eye tracking” television screen. Your baby will then watch four short films (each taking about 5 minutes). The films will be of people talking and looking at different everyday objects.

See what your baby can do

After baby watches the films we will play them again and you will see a moving red circle and bright colours that will show you exactly where your baby was looking when the films were playing.
This is interesting, because you can see how much your baby was looking at different parts of people’s faces and at different parts of objects. We will talk to you about the way in which babies look at people and why it is important, and discuss any questions you might have.

Follow up when your baby is two years old

We will also ask you to come to a follow-up session when your baby is two years old. In this session we will show another film and also do some other tasks that give us an idea of how your baby’s language and social abilities have increased. The tasks are exciting and engaging for toddlers, and involve playing with different toys.

What is this research for and what will you find out about your baby?

This study is important as it can help us work out whether using this technology with six-month-old babies could tell us useful information about how babies’ language develops at later ages.
The tests are brand new, so this study won’t be able to predict what your own child will be able to do just yet, but will help us to develop these tests in the future.

A little thank you

We will give you a £10 gift voucher at each visit so you can buy something for your baby, and we will also offer a baby book, a certificate of attendance and a large picture of yours baby's looking patterns.

How long will each session last and will I get my travel costs paid for?

The visit will last about one hour, including feeding and changing (if necessary). We will try and book you in a centre within walking distance from your home. If you live further away we may be able to reimburse your travel costs. We will discuss this with you when we arrange the time.

What is an eye tracking television? Is it safe for my baby?

Yes, it is completely safe – in fact, it is just a normal computer screen but with special sensors, which can tell us where your child is looking on the screen at any moment.
The eye-tracker television uses low-level infrared light, just like in your home TV remote control. It detects the bright and the dark parts of the eye and in this way works out where the eyes are looking.

What data will be collected and what will happen to it?

During the tasks, a computer will record where your baby looks. We may also video record your baby’s behaviour to allow us to look at it again later.
We will enter information you give us about yourself on a computer, but this information will not be connected to your name and address. The data are confidential (secret) and will only be accessible by passwords, known only to the research team. A code will be attached to all data so that it is impossible for someone else to know who you are. In this way the data you give us will be kept anonymous.
We will combine the data from many babies. Once we have tested enough babies, the data will be published in scientific journals. Nobody will be able to tell that you or your child took part in the study by reading these papers.

What do I need to do to take part?

If we have already been in contact with you and we have sent you this information we will be contacting you again soon to arrange a time for your visit to the nearest Children’s Centre. At that point you will be asked to sign a consent form to participate.
If you have received this information sheet from someone else and are interested in taking part, please contact us using this form, call us on 0208 223 4951 or send an email to talby@uel.ac.uk.

Note on ethical approval

The procedures in this study have been approved by the University of East London Ethics Committee and, where appropriate, by an NHS Ethics Committee. These committees are independent of the study and exist to ensure that the procedures we use are ethical, safe and appropriate. All data is strictly confidential. It is your right to end a study session or to withdraw from the study at any time. If your child should become upset at any point we will stop the session immediately. All equipment used in the study has been thoroughly tested. You do not have to take part in this study. If you do not take part this will not affect your ability to access services or treatment in your area.

Last updated 14.02.2011.

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