Department of Psychology

Frequently Asked Questions

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• What does the CAT Lab study?

• Where is the CAT Lab located?

• Is parking available?

• What ages are you looking for?

• If we choose to participate, what types of tasks will my child participate in?

• What is EEG and how is it collected?

• How long does the study take?

• Are there any risks or benefits to participating?

• Will I be paid for participating in your study?

• Will I be with my child the whole time?

• What happens when I arrive?

• When are studies scheduled?

• Can I bring my other child(ren) with me to the study?

• How can I get involved?

What does the CAT Lab study?

The CAT Lab studies how children respond to social and emotional situations in their lives. In addition, we look to see what tools (like attention) children use to deal with these events. We are interested in how this happens at the level of the body (behavior), brain (biological markers), and mind (cognition).

Where are you located?

We are in the basement of David King Hall, which sits at the center of the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University.

Is parking available?

Yes. Our laboratory is located very near the Mason Pond Parking Deck on campus, and we can offer parking validation. Please see the Contact section of our site for more detailed driving directions and parking information.

What ages are you looking for?

For our pre-school study, we work with children ages 4 to 6.

If we choose to participate, what types of tasks will my child participate in?

The study is divided into two parts. First, we will ask you to complete two brief questionnaires regarding your child’s temperament. These questionnaires can be completed online through a link which a researcher will send to you. If you would prefer paper copies, we can send them through regular mail. We are interested in recruiting children with a wide variety of personalities and temperaments, so based on your responses to these questionnaires we may invite you to the Fairfax campus of George Mason University for the second part of the study.

At our laboratory, your child will sit at a small table with the researcher and play short fun games. These are not games with a pass/fail outcome. Instead, we are interested in how groups of normally developing children react to the situations we present them. Your child will also play computer games while we collect electrical signals (EEG) from you child’s brain.

What is EEG and how is it collected?

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the natural electrical activity generated by the brain. We collect the EEG signal using a cap that is placed on your child’s head. The cap looks like an old fashioned swim cap with electrodes embedded in the material. Your child may bring a favorite DVD to the lab and watch it while we set-up the EEG cap.

How long does the study take?

The questionnaires should only take about 10 minutes to complete. The visit to the CAT Lab at GMU takes about 3 hours. We understand that this is a long time for a young child, and we do not expect all children to complete every task. Your child will be given frequent breaks to play in our Family Room or enjoy a snack.

Are there any risks or benefits to participating?

There are no risks associated with participating in our studies. While there is no direct benefit to your child, by participating you will be adding to our understanding of child development.

Will I be paid for participating in your study?

We do pay for participating in some portions of our laboratory study. In addition, we give all children who participate in the laboratory portion of our study a toy as a thank you for participation.

Will I be with my child the whole time?

Yes. For the preschool study, we can accommodate you in the testing room.

What happens when I arrive?

When you arrive, you will be greeted near the parking garage at the statue of George Mason by one of our research assistants. The researcher will escort you to the CAT Lab, explain the study in detail, and answer all of your questions. The researcher will ask you to read and sign a consent form, and will give you a copy to take with you.

When are studies scheduled?

We know that families are very busy and it can be difficult to make time for research. As such, we do our best to schedule visits that are convenient for you. This includes both weekdays and weekends.

Can I bring my other child(ren) with me to the study?

Yes! Depending on the age of your child(ren), they can either stay with you during the study or we can arrange to have one research assistant play with them in our Family Room. Please let us know before you come to the appointment.

How can I get involved?

If you have received a contact information form from us, please complete it and mail it back to us. A researcher will then contact you. If you have not received a form from us but are interested in participating, please contact Katie Nelson at (703)993-2241 or snelsona@gmu.edu