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- What is Talk Together Study researching about?
- It’s a longitudinal* study? How so?
- What is in each Phase?
- What is the timeline like?
- Can we do the activities in our own time?
- Will we be contacted between the Phases?
- What will I learn about my child’s language development?
- I have two children between your target age group of 8-36 months. Can I sign both of them up?
- My child isn’t talking much yet. Can we still take part?
- Can both parents take part?
- Oh, a lucky draw? What do we stand to win?
- What is Talk Together Study researching about?
Our current unique Work-From-Home arrangements means that many of us are spending more time at home with our child. Care patterns may also be different since many of our children aren’t spending as much time with grandparents or in childcare. We want to know if this change has any influence your child’s language development. We also want to hear from you regarding your language beliefs. Sign up here!
- It’s a longitudinal* study? How so?
Yes! It’s a special one consisting of three phases. There is a gap of 4 weeks between each phase and 3-4 activities in each phase.
The activities during each Phase will occur over the course of the 1st week, with the completion of one activity triggering the start of the next.
*a longitudinal study refers to a research design where we measure something about your child and your interactions with them three times, waiting for a fixed amount of time between each measurement. This design allows us to measure how things change over time.
- What is in each Phase?
Phase 1
In Phase 1, you will be asked to participate in 3 activities:
- Surveys
- Voicemail Game
- Video Call Storytime with our researcher
Altogether, the surveys will take around an hour to complete. We will ask you some questions about your family’s language usage and language beliefs and ask that you provide an estimation of what words your child knows and uses.
Altogether, the Voicemail Game will take less than half an hour to complete. We will be sending you some prompts e.g. single words printed on a card over WhatsApp, ask you to record yourself reading these words, and send the recordings back to us.
Altogether, the Video Call Storytime with our researcher takes less than an hour to complete. We will be presenting a picture book on the screen while you read the story to your child. If you choose not to turn on the camera function during the video call, please let us know, and we can make special arrangements for you and your child.
Phase 2
In Phase 2, you will be asked to participate in 2 activities:
- Surveys
- Video Call Storytime with our researcher
Altogether, the survey will take an hour to complete. We will ask you questions about activities you do with your child, how the Circuit Breaker may have changed you and your child’s daily schedule and routines, and some follow-up on the words your child knows and uses.
The Video Call Storytime will be similar to the one in Phase 1.
Phase 3
In Phase 3, you will be asked to participate in 2 activities:
- Surveys
- Video Call Storytime with our researcher
Altogether, the survey will take an hour to complete. We will ask for your feedback on the study and the materials we have provided and ask for some follow-up regarding the words your child knows.
The Video Call Storytime will be similar to the one in Phase 1.
- What is the timeline like? What’s my commitment level?
Your participation in the activities during each Phase will take a day or two. There are 3 phases, and there will be 4 weeks between each phase. Phase 2 will begin 4 weeks after the start of Phase 1, and Phase 3 will begin 4 weeks after Phase 2. We may be in regular contact with you via WhatsApp or email regarding activities promoting talk and engagement with your child for not more than 8 weeks in total.
- Can we do the activities in our own time?
Yes! Most of the activities like filling in surveys and doing Voicemail Game via WhatsApp can be completed at your own time. For the video chat sessions, you will be able to book an appointment that works best for you and your child (weekends may be possible, by special approintment).
- Will we be contacted between the Phases?
Yes! At key points within the longitudinal study, we will contact you to let you know what stage the study is in, what activities are available for completion, and the timeline for completion for these activities. Between each Phase, you will receive information via WhatsApp or email from us about parenting tips and strategies for boosting your child’s language skills.
- What will I learn about my child’s language development?
We will be giving you a Language Experiences Overview (LEO) report detailing your child’s language environment. We will also be sharing with you what current science is telling us about vocabulary growth of children and how to promote it.
- I have two children between your target age group of 8-36 months. Can I sign both of them up?
Yes! Definitely! We will collect consent separately for each child. Since some of the activities are related to one child or the other, we will provide a bonus remuneration for your second child on top of the full remuneration you will receive for the participation of your first child.
- My child isn’t talking much yet, can we still take part?
For this study, we are recruiting families with healthy, typically-developing children. If your child has a diagnosed language or hearing disorder, we won’t be able to include you this time round. We recognise that every child’s development is different, and even children who aren’t talking yet can be involved.
If you would like to speak to our research team about the eligibility of your child’s participation, send us an email at bliplab@ntu.edu.sg.
- Can both parents take part?
The sign-up will be based on the child instead of the parent. Your partner can be involved in some of the activities during the Phases and their participation will lead to more chances in our lucky draw!
- Oh, a lucky draw? What do we stand to win?
We have 10 lucky draw prizes up for grabs, each worth $150! Each prize has our BLIP Lab goodie bag and $120 NTUC Vouchers. Completion of tasks in each Phase will earn you chances in the lucky draw.
If you’re keen to take part, you can sign up here: bit.ly/talktogetherstudy
If you have more questions about our study, you can drop us an email at bliplab@ntu.edu.sg or ask us your questions here.
We’re also running other exciting studies that you can take part in with your child, such as I Say You Say and Red Dot Baby Talk. Click here to find out more about the things we do at BLIP!