Participation

Current Child Studies

Click on the following studies for more information or scroll to see study information below:
Dual Language Learning in Young Children with ASD (18 – 35 month olds)
Learning in two Languages: Tagalog-English Bilingual Book Reading Study (2 and 3 year olds)
Talking Late in Two Languages Study (2 and 4 year olds)
Look, Listen, Learn! (4 and 5 year olds)
Learning in two Languages: Virtual Bilingualism Study (4 and 5 year olds)
Learning in two Languages: Word Learning across Accents and Time Scales (6, 7, and 8 year olds)

Dual Language Learning in Young Children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) – In Person

We are learning about how 2-year-old children develop their language skills.

Who is eligible?

  • 18-36 month old children who have been exposed to Spanish in the home and are typically developing.
  • 24-36 month old children who have been exposed to Spanish in the home and have an autism diagnosis or suspected autism.

What does participation involve?

Participation includes 4-6 sessions scheduled at your convenience. Each session is around 60-120 minutes, for 3-6 total hours of participation. Children complete language and thinking games, and standardized assessments. Parents complete questionnaires and parent-child interactive activities with toys.

Why participate?

  • If your chid has an autism diagnosis or suspected autism, participation in this study includes a diagnostic evaluation for autism.
  • Compensation
    • If your child is typically developing, you will receive a gift card of $30 after the first session, $40 after the second session, and $50 for completing all the questionnaires.
    • If your child is has an autism diagnosis or suspected autism, you will receive a gift card of $45 after the first session, $60 after the second session, and $100 for completing all of the questionnaires.
  • You will also receive compensation for gas mileage (at 50 cents per mile).
  • You will receive a free report of your child’s language assessments.

Where does this study happen?

UW Waisman Center: 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705

How do I get started?

Contact us:

Back to top

Learning in two Languages: Tagalog-English Bilingual Book Reading Study

Our goal is to better understand how parents and/or caregivers support language learning in Tagalog and potentially promote the creation of resources to help parents teach and maintain Tagalog in their families.

Who is eligible?

Adults who are Tagalog-English bilinguals and care for a child between ages 2-3 are eligible to participate in the study. Adults must not have any history of speech, language, hearing, or vision deficits. Children must be able to sit through a 30-minute Zoom session. Parents, grandparents, and/or caregivers are welcome!

What does participation involve?

Participation involves virtual completion of general background and language questionnaires (~60 minutes to complete), and one 30-minute virtual Zoom session, where parents/caregivers will read two stories to their children, and children will play a matching game with the researcher.

Why participate?

  •  Compensation
    • Upon completion of the questionnaires and virtual session, participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card.
  • Your participation will also contribute to much needed research on Tagalog-English bilingualism!

Back to top

Where does this study happen?

This study is fully virtual and uses Zoom.

How do I get started?

Contact us:

LAB Lab members tabling at Baby's First Halloween at the Madison Children's Museum.
LAB Lab members tabling at Baby's First Halloween at the Madison Children's Museum.

Where does the study happen?

UW Waisman Center: 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705

How do I get started?

Contact us:

Talking Late in Two Languages Study – In Person

We are learning about how 2- and 4-year-old children develop their language skills.

Who is eligible?

2 (24-35 months) and 4-year old children who have been exposed to English and Spanish and are typically developing or with language delay.

What does participation involve?

Participation includes 2-4 sessions scheduled at your convenience. At age 2, two total sessions; at age 4, two total sessions. Each session is around 60-90 minutes, for 2-6 total hours of participation. Children complete language and thinking games, and standardized assessments. Parents complete questionnaires and parent-child interactive activities with toys.

Why participate?

  • At age 2, participants will receive a gift card of $15 after the first session, $20 after the second session, and $10 for completing all the questionnaires. This repeats again at age 4.
  • Your child will be able to choose a small prize after each session.
  • You will also receive compensation for gas mileage (at 50 cents per mile).
  • You will receive a free report of your child’s language assessments.

Back to top

Look, Listen, Learn! – In Person

We are learning about how 4- to 5-year-old children understand and learn English and Spanish. Help us learn more about language development!

Who is eligible?

Bilingual (Spanish-English) AND monolingual (English) children ages 4-5 years who are either typically developing or with language impairment

What does participation involve?

Participation includes three or four 60-90 minute sessions scheduled at your convenience. Children play engaging computer games, complete standardized assessments of language and thinking skills, and listen to stories. Parents complete questionnaires and participate in play with their child.

Why participate?

  • Compensation
    • $20 for the first session and $30 for subsequent sessions
    • Cash compensation for gas mileage (at 50 cents per mile)
    • A book for your child
    • Free language evaluation of language skills

Where does this study happen?

UW Waisman Center: 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705

How do I get started?

Contact us:

Back to top

Learning in two Languages: Virtual Bilingualism Study

We are learning about how 4-5 year old children develop their language skills. Help us to learn more about bilingualism and language development!

Who is eligible?

Bilingual 4-5  year old children who speak English and Spanish and are either typically developing or with language impairment.

What does participation involve?

Participation includes four 60-90 minute sessions scheduled at your convenience. Children play engaging computer games,  standardized assessments of language and thinking skills. Parents complete questionnaires and parent-child interactive activities with toys.

Why participate?

Eligible participants receive:

  • Free language evaluation of English and Spanish language skills
  • $15 for the first session, $20 for the second session, $25 for the third session, and $30 for the final session

Back to top

Adult and child using a laptop at a table.

Where does the study happen?

Virtually, through Zoom

Learning in two Languages: Word Learning across Accents and Time Scales

We are learning about how children develop their language skills.

Who is eligible?

Children age 6-9 who speak English or English and Spanish.

What does participation involve?

Participation includes 2 virtual sessions, each lasting about 60 to 90 minutes, conveniently scheduled for you and your family. Within the session, children will complete language and thinking games and standardized assessments. Parents will complete questionnaires about both their and their child’s language history and development, facilitate the computer connection, assist with assessments.

Why participate?

  • Compensation via Amazon gift card
    • Participants will receive $15 after the first session and $20 after the second session

Where does this study happen?

On Zoom, from your house or other private space.

Participants have the option to do the session in person at the UW Waisman Center if participants prefer.

How do I get started?

Contact us:

Back to top

Current Adult Studies

The Language Acquisition and Bilingualism Lab is often recruiting adults to participate in their research. If interested in future participation, please contact us at uwbilingualismlab@waisman.wisc.edu or call us at (608) 263-5764.

Back to top

LAB team members hosting an information booth.
LAB team members hosting an information booth.