Recruitment

Thank you for your interest in joining the Child Study Centre volunteer list. We’re thrilled you’re considering joining our community of families who help shape the future of child development research.

At the University of Manchester Child Study Centre, we study how children grow, learn, and communicate. We couldn’t do it without the help of amazing families like yours.

What we do

We run fun, play-based studies with children aged 0-10 years, exploring everything from language development to social understanding. Some studies take place in person, others online and all are designed to be enjoyable and age-appropriate.

What happens when you sign up

You’ll fill out a short registration form. Your child will be added to our volunteer database. We’ll contact you via email when a study matches your child’s age. You’re never obligated to take part completely up to you each time.

• Complete the registration form

What to expect when you take part

Some of our studies take place online via Zoom, while others happen in person at our Child Study Centre on the University of Manchester campus. Either way, we’ll work with you to find a time that suits you and your child.

Visiting the Centre

When you arrive, one of our friendly researchers will greet you with a warm welcome, and a cup of tea or coffee. We also have juice ready for your child if they would like it.

We’ll explain the study again, answer any questions, and ask you to sign a short consent form. While you do that, your child can settle in with toys and colouring in our cosy playroom.

During the study

Once everyone’s comfortable, we’ll move to a nearby room to begin. You’ll stay with your child the whole time.

Our studies are designed to be fun, playful, and short (usually under 30 minutes). Afterwards, your child is welcome to return to the playroom while we answer any final questions.

Bringing siblings

Let us know if you’re bringing your child’s siblings along. We’ve got toys, drawing materials and baby changing facilities.

You can change your mind at any time. If your child doesn’t want to take part, that’s absolutely fine.

Your privacy and our promise

We take your child’s privacy seriously. All of our studies are approved by the University of Manchester’s ethics committee, and any information you share is kept confidential and anonymous.

What happens to your data?

Personal details are stored securely and used only for research purposes. You can ask us to remove your details from our database at any time no questions asked.

Our studies are not assessments of individual children. We’re interested in how children learn and grow as a group.

Schools and nurseries

A lot of the studies are run with the help of local schools and nurseries. If you know a school or nursery that might like to participate, please ask them to get in touch.