FAQs

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Why participate?

Participating in research is an invaluable gift you can offer to your community and to science. When you participate in research, society benefits by the added knowledge that is gained by your participation Our research investigates how children develop when they participate in extra-curricular activities such as music, theatre, or visual arts. We hope we hope to provide information to the public on the potential benefits of such programs. The findings from our research program could be ultimately used to inform education and childcare policies at a local, state, or national level. Without your help, this would not be possible!

Can I choose which after school program my child participates in?

No, your child will be randomly placed in one of our after school programs. You will receive a phone call before the start of the program letting you know which one your child has been randomly assigned to. Should you have a strong inclination for one program over the other, we ask that you not participate in this study. We expect all study participants to participate in their assigned program for the entirety of the study – 2 years.

How often will I be asked to participate?

Your child will be asked to visit USC 3 times. Once before the start of the after-school program, 1 year after the start of the program and after the program ends 2 years later. You will also be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about your child’s environment and development every 6 months. These questionnaires will be sent to you electronically, you do not need to visit USC to complete them.

What does a day at the lab look like?

When you and your child arrive to our facilities, you will be greeted at the door by one of our researchers. We will explain the day’s activities and ask you to sign an agreement to participate before we begin. A research assistant will go over all the paperwork with you and make sure all is clear before you sign anything. Then, your child will be led to our practice scanner to learn what it’s like to have their brain picture taken. You can accompany your child. Once your child feels comfortable with the process, they will be taken to the real scanner to take their brain picture. After the MRI scan, your child will be asked to complete a set of tests that help us measure their cognitive development. While our research assistants work with your child, you will be able to wait in a comfortable waiting room. After your child’s participation is finished, he or she will be rewarded with a small gift, and you will receive monetary compensation for your time. Your child will only participate in an MRI scan on the first USC visit (before the start of the after-school program) and third USC visit (after the program ends 2 years later). During the second visit (1 year after the start of the program), your child will only be asked to complete cognitive tests.

Your child will only participate in an MRI scan on the first USC visit (before the start of the after school program) and third USC visit (after the program ends 2 years later). During the second visit (1 year after the start of the program), your child will only be asked to complete cognitive assessments outside of the MRI scanner.

How long is each lab visit?

The first and third visit will last approximately 3 hours. The second visit will last approximately 2 hours.

Can I bring my other children?

Yes! We have a room set up just for you and your family. We have child-friendly games, toys, and coloring books. We have a variety of seating options for parents arriving without other children, as well.

How can I schedule visits?

Call or text Caitlin at (213) 821-9832 or email us at ChildDevelopmentStudy@usc.edu. We are flexible. If you need to reschedule a visit, please call or email us before your visit time!

How will I get to the lab?

Our address is 3620A McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089. We can provide you with a pass to park your car in a nearby structure for free. We can also provide a free Lyft to and from campus if you don’t have access to a car or don’t want to drive.

What is MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is a non-invasive imaging method that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to make images of your brain. No X-rays or ionizing radiation are used in the MRI. Your child will NOT be given any MRI contrast agents [chemicals that help imaging certain brain tissues or processes] or any other drugs in this study. The MRI scans are not intended to be diagnostic and do not replace a clinical MRI scan.

Are there risks of MRI?

At this time, there are no known significant risks associated with repeated magnetic field or radio waves used in MRI. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI does not use radiation. Your child may experience anxiety or claustrophobia. If this happens, your child may discontinue the scan immediately by using the provided emergency button.

Is there anything we need to do to prepare for the MRI?

Since MRI is a non-invasive method, there is nothing your child needs to do before their scan. They can eat and drink before their visit. To make the preparation process faster, it would be best to make sure your child does not have any removable metal on their person such as earrings, watches, retainers, hair pins/clips, or any other type of jewelry or metallic object.

What will my child do in the MRI?

Your child will be asked to lie in our MRI machine for approximately 45 minutes but not longer than 60 minutes. Your child will be asked to keep his/her head still while MRI scans are completed. During the scan, your child will hear repetitive tapping noises from the machine, and he/she will wear earplugs to reduce the noise. During certain scanning sequences, your child may also feel the table vibrate slightly as part of its normal method of operation.

For part of the MRI, your child can watch a Netflix show of his/her choice inside the scanner to help with lying quietly in the machine while scanning. For the rest of the MRI, your child will complete cognitive assessments in the form of child-friendly games while lying in the scanner.

What if my child gets scared?

You may choose to stay inside the MRI room with your child and hold his/her hand. If you choose to stay in the room, you will be offered earplugs to reduce the noise of the MRI scanner which produces loud thumping and humming noises during imaging.

Additionally, participation in all aspects of this study is voluntary. While we would love for every child to participate in the MRI scan, we are understanding of every child’s needs and wishes. If your child decides that he or she does not want to participate anymore at any point before or during the scan, we will remove them from the scanner immediately. A call button is provided such that your child may have the scan stopped at any time during the study.

How do I know that my child will be comfortable in the MRI?

Before we enter the MRI scanning room, we explain very thoroughly what the MRI experience will look, feel, and sound like. Your child will practice in a mock model of an MRI machine, where we will make sure he/she feels completely comfortable and understands the process. During the scan, your child will be provided with a weighted blanket, pillows, and stuffed toys if desired. For the entire duration of the scan, your child will be able to talk to us and we will be able to talk to them. If your child wishes, we can stay in the scanner room with them.

What else should I know about MRI?

If your child has: braces, a cardiac pacemaker; a metal clip in his/her body, a piece of metal in his/her eye she/he cannot have a MRI because the metal parts will be attracted by the magnet and will heat up. Any loose metallic object in your child’s body or in his/her pockets must be removed because it will be attracted by the magnet, and it will fly out of his/her pockets. This includes: keys, jewelry, money clips, paper clips, safety pins, hairpins and barrettes. If you choose to stay inside the MRI scanning room during the session with your child, you will be asked to remove all metal and electronic objects prior to entering the MRI room. In addition, objects such as watches, credit cards and hearing aids could be damaged in the presence of magnetic field. A locker will be provided for you and your child to secure your items and valuables.

Will my information be shared with others?

Your privacy is very important to us and your information will be treated confidentially. Your information will NOT be shared with anyone that is not affiliated with the study. Only certified researchers affiliated with the study will have access to your contact information and will only contact you about the study and for no other reason.

How is my and my child’s information and data protected?

Your child will be assigned a unique study ID that only research personnel can associate with your child’s personal identifying information. All our data is stored in a secure web application that is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant and only accessible by authorized personnel.