https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/currentstudies daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/90ec1580-9b15-4dbd-a6bf-b82995a7b961/national-cancer-institute-VJVsEnR_vNE-unsplash.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out How do parents shape their children’s development? Who: Children ages 4 to 6 and one of their parents Time to Complete: 1-hour Where: GMU, Fairfax campus Topic: Help us understand how parental beliefs and behaviors influence their children’s executive function and self-regulation skills. Recruitment for this study has ended. Thank you to the families that participated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/4c2928bf-9a6a-40e8-9de5-1cc825cf8429/paige-cody-FHFfHWWzbCc-unsplash.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out Let’s explore! In this study, 80 local families helped us to learn about how children use social information to regulate themselves when exploring new toys. Data are currently being analyzed. We will share more information soon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1687531978907-108L9YNBA6I0OOYTQ4J7/image-asset.jpeg STUDIES - Make it stand out Let's draw! In August 2023, over 120 families with 2- to 5-year-old children participated in an online study to us learn about what makes kids choose how they use effort in a drawing task. Data are currently being analyzed. We will share more information soon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1680888930811-7R0X2MZPRQSO2ZD0B2AO/unsplash-image-Cq9slNxV8YU.jpg STUDIES What kinds of activities at home support children’s executive function? Between May and July of 2020, 93 parents and their 3- to 5-year-old children participated in our study to help us learn about the activities children are doing at home during the COVID–19 pandemic and how this might be related to their executive function (self-regulation) skills. This study is now published at Developmental Science! Click below to read about what we learned! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1646147880460-22U8H8FIW4JSHIZR9TUM/unsplash-image-r2hTBxEkgWQ.jpg STUDIES How do children and adults respond to faces with and without masks? In this study, participants viewed images of children’s faces (masked or unmasked), rated their cuteness, and estimated their age. Cuteness ratings and perceived age predicted how interested adults were in caring for children. While wearing a mask did not reduce adult interest in caring for children, they did weaken the relation between perceived cuteness and interest and between perceived age and interest. This study is now published at Scientific Reports! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1646147779686-SA2H4ZIOB77APHDIB8DD/unsplash-image-O5EMzfdxedg.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out How do children learn to write? In this study, 3- to 6-year-olds and their families helped us to learn about the learning mechanisms supporting their understanding of how to correctly write letters and numbers! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1606768402149-0V43B2T8OAHRXJJB68SY/image-asset.jpeg STUDIES How do children feel about different sounds, images, and social actions? In this study, we are exploring developmental differences in children’s judgements and preferences about everyday sights and sounds! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1617306612438-XTFGOSO5NO0KERA8MERU/unsplash-image-nGwkIZFelko.jpg STUDIES How does social knowledge support executive function skills? In this study, we explored how young children understand and use social information to engage their executive function (self-regulation) skills! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1684943656856-WJBRXGLQWU0VPPJ1IMZO/unsplash-image-leyUrzdwurc.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out How do children learn and use deductive reasoning? In this study, we studied how children come to understand and use deductive reasoning and logic in their thinking across standard and play conditions. Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/e12b442f-8efd-4ea0-aa29-21a494129910/image-asset.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out Is that logical? In this study, we explored young children's logical reasoning and how different contextual cues may affect their reasoning! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1687531644985-Y8EFLGCGFTLV2AC80EJJ/image-asset.jpeg STUDIES - Make it stand out What's in a face? In this study, we explored how certain cues foster learning in early childhood! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/e2ab403b-bec9-443b-8c5b-cfbf8ff4f406/image-asset.jpg STUDIES Make a guess: Does it sink or float? Between July 2023 and May 2024, 109 parents and their 5- to 7-year-old children participated in our study exploring gender-science stereotypes in children and gender differences in persistence on a science task. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/39515959-d9e4-4f82-ae85-c95422251dc6/image-asset.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out Can you remember the numbers? In this study, we explored children’s working memory and its relation to language, literacy, and numeracy! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/3e9efd80-2db3-4c8e-884d-5e85d9c15d51/image-asset.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out Let’s switch things up! In this study, we explored children's executive function skills, how they develop with age, and how they are related to other developmental milestones! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1680888688291-IJ2BB83U5XRDV0PLFZ7H/unsplash-image-Z9AU36chmQI.jpg STUDIES - Make it stand out Puzzles and Persistence In this study, we explored how exposure to information affects children’s engagement on a puzzle task! Data are currently being analyzed, so check back soon for a study update. https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/people daily 0.75 2026-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1597429784546-1NQGLN33KUE19GH8K2B5/Doebel_0011-WEB_crop.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/93a76883-5a59-4651-9164-ef7a95da70b3/LUTFI%CC%87YE.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/574c061a-ae5c-4ba7-9be6-ee09cab7b20e/JenniferBivin_DevMindsLabPhoto.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/f5ca3ec6-68db-43de-a116-dc465660714d/IMG-3905.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/7c4df3c3-2241-4963-b7b3-5563570da42b/Professional+Pic.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/3d1a0091-4764-48f6-bce9-e0c170f3ffd5/Mehmood+Shajih.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/69dac9a5-edb0-4c0c-b8b6-511aee6bd0e1/Monique+Le.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/c792e750-e678-45a4-9e80-290287830f99/Minasi+Kaluappuwa+Hanna.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/d716187c-0581-4647-a656-778031c12696/tempImage8NiflX.jpg https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/volunteer daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/a9d4624f-28e9-461c-87fa-d9bcb8d0a4c9/IMG_4942.jpg VOLUNTEER Undergraduate research assistant, Fielder Wise, working in our lab space, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/6829ebc7-64ea-41c5-95b6-43ce2d3a7421/tempImageLLwPWi.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Sabine and undergraduate research assistant, Jordan Hassani, at Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences Annual Celebration of Scholarship, 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/89daf451-9eaa-4c26-9bf9-2130979e5fc5/IMG_4680.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Undergraduate research assistant, Jasmine Sea, with her honor’s thesis poster for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Symposium, 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/094e15a0-9175-4462-bf14-309054ae489b/IMG_4402.jpeg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Armita Dadvar presents her honor’s thesis at the GMU CHSS symposium. She also received a research excellence award! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/d00c5e5e-7b0f-432f-856f-8b5eb003354f/Mehmood_and_Sabine_poster.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Sabine with research assistant, Mehmood Shajih, and his research poster at the OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact, Summer 2025. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1629737177806-UHO9YP1RYDKHX7M0Q6DJ/Summer+2021+Ice+Cream+Cookies.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Research assistants Jordan Hassani, Sydney Foss, Sara Khan, and Songhan Pang at our end-of-summer ice cream and cookie social, 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/b425816e-7033-4fa7-ad7d-65db622b0133/IMG_4664.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Undergraduate research assistant, Scarlett Bird-Guerra, presenting her honor’s thesis poster during Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/ad9b1a0f-7845-4f06-9dfd-0ed22b16bfbc/Honors+Showcase+Sabine+%26+Scarlett+2023.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Sabine with research assistant, Scarlett Bird-Guerra, and her Honor’s Thesis poster during the CHSS Showcase, 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/207e5eb2-694b-4e49-b45e-d8b3bc8842be/Minasi_poster.jpg VOLUNTEER - Make it stand out Minasi Kaluappuwa Hannadige presents her research poster at the OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact, Summer 2025. https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/home daily 1.0 2026-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1623681127898-B1N71LU195SBCNEW6G3Y/Transparent+PNG_V1.png HOME Welcome to the Developing Minds Lab! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1568852284108-ERXJQZHSYM90XUVCUYV8/George-Mason-University-campus-feat.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1568989196244-IEHJV2QAOWDSO8NG1IVG/image-asset.jpeg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1568852623878-2920T9U3FR2K8AJOTETH/image-asset.jpeg HOME https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/for-parents daily 0.75 2024-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1582038127260-ZVYNQT6HKIS8KESFRCMW/Screen+Shot+2020-02-18+at+10.01.47+AM.png FOR PARENTS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1581792440430-S95O8D8YXMGYKM0EXDJD/IMG_4919.png FOR PARENTS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1581792591136-94PKEH61SDFEZOJ2KIOO/IMG_4942.png FOR PARENTS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1623681127898-B1N71LU195SBCNEW6G3Y/Transparent%2BPNG_V1.jpg FOR PARENTS - Make it stand out Developing Minds Lab David King Hall, Room 1034 4400 University Drive, MSN 3F5 Fairfax, VA 22030-4422 Email: devminds@gmu.edu Phone: (703) 993-4753 https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/participate daily 0.75 2022-02-03 https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/publications daily 0.75 2025-05-07 https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/404-error-page-not-found daily 0.75 2019-09-28 https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/k-study daily 0.75 2023-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/11164342-33bd-472e-804a-5f669c80aeaf/11-Figure1-1.png https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/blog-home-activities-executive-function daily 0.75 2024-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1680900850546-8149ANHZZWZ3COM8C5VT/unsplash-image-aeh1dbI_a7I.jpg Children’s Activities Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/de4fc7b5-36d9-4de2-bafe-e77e1645eb0e/Screen+Shot+2022-07-05+at+1.10.55+PM.jpg Children’s Activities Study https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/students daily 0.75 2025-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/c6963735-e395-454f-8203-9ff5eaed1bc3/IMG_5923.jpg STUDENTS - Make it stand out Ph.D. student Victoria Rabii presents a poster on broadening the study of developmental science through online, asynchronous data collection at the 2025 Society for Research on Child Development biennial conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1577741650674-QNA5BZFCTG6CN073RAWH/IMG_4649.JPG STUDENTS Ph.D. student Nicole Stucke presents a poster exploring socioeconomic differences on a widely used executive function task at the 2019 Cognitive Development Society biennial conference. https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/ourlab daily 0.75 2023-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/0434bcf7-6c54-45d5-b215-5ddc65b7edba/tempImagethsvEP.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Toys and books for children of all ages in our family waiting room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/ca7ad916-6269-4ff8-a929-53deb5259e0e/tempImageOsMTV3.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/35b33fa0-40b1-44a1-a3bd-aac9d2bf73d5/tempImageanbCkh.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Welcome to our lab! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/4dc1bd5d-9c2a-4283-b869-7bbce5b44dc5/IMG_7439.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/15803f44-0b01-4754-9938-e2574a8c327a/tempImagePCODhY.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Studies usually take place in the ‘Planets’ or ‘Moon’ room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/d6e474d6-a899-4717-a30f-0de3e46b3a30/IMG_2135.png Our Space - Make it stand out A child completing a commonly used measure of young children’s vocabulary skills, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/0f44f8c1-fd62-4420-99c7-a26e48381e4e/tempImageTbrz4P.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out Family waiting room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/a1fcaaf0-e2be-44b9-a12a-57c2332179f6/tempImagetzqP3x.jpg Our Space - Make it stand out The setup for one of our studies – there is a puzzle inside the box! https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/blog-school-enjoyment-knowledge daily 0.75 2024-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/e3862c2a-e4c8-4ddc-b96f-bcc36ffa682f/unsplash-image-GDokEYnOfnE.jpg Children's School Enjoyment & Knowledge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.devminds.gmu.edu/research-blog daily 0.75 2024-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/3e54bff6-21d0-4b02-89ab-b3db7e4cc524/Screenshot+2024-06-07+at+2.37.18%E2%80%AFPM.png Research Blog - Make it stand out Will it sink or float? No gender differences in 5- to 7-year-old children’s science task engagement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1680898630281-OGMAYN64TK41PKAOAAOJ/unsplash-image-UqTrGSohyCs.jpg Research Blog - Make it stand out Does enjoying school matter for children's general knowledge development in preschool and kindergarten? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d7681661df12933dc7eb1ce/1680898692254-2Q86MA8IWMB7UK25B4U7/unsplash-image-aeh1dbI_a7I.jpg Research Blog - Make it stand out What are the kids doing? Children’s activities at home and their executive function skills