What are we studying? We're studying how kids generate options when faced with genuinely open-ended problems. Adults effortlessly come up with options to incredibly open-ended questions like "What do you want for dinner?" In theory, there are millions of things you could consider - but in reality, we tend to only consider a few. We're studying how this skill develops and changes across childhood. What factors influence the types of options kids generate? And how do the options they consider relate to their decisions?

Who can participate? Anyone between the ages of four and twelve! Your child can participate in our study right from the comfort of your home via an online Zoom session, or you can visit our lab at Dartmouth College. If you have multiple kids within the age range, bring them all! They can participate in back-to-back time slots. To sign-up, fill out this form

What will you and your child do during the study? Participants will come into the PhilLab (Raven House 107) or participate via Zoom. Guardians will be asked to sign a consent form and wait outside the designated room (the door will be open for your comfort). Children will then be asked for verbal consent.

During the session, we’ll guide your child through various familiar scenarios, asking them to imagine and articulate responses to everyday situations, like what they might do on a sunny day at the park. On Zoom, the children will respond by talking, gesturing, or clicking (e.g., mouse or keyboard clicking). In some cases, the parent may be asked to assist by using the computer to indicate the child’s response. These activities are designed to be fun, engaging, and intellectually stimulating, taking approximately 15 minutes. Our study will be conducted in a completely non-invasive manner and can be ended at any time.

Why should I participate? It’s a great opportunity for your child to exercise their creativity and contribute to science! We believe understanding how children think about possibility is crucial for enhancing educational methods and cognitive development strategies.

Did we mention that your kids receive a cool prize? Yes, even for Zoom participants, a prize will be shipped to YOU.