This packet contains the forms/guidelines for conducting educational projects with children/families/staff in the CDC. Please contact Vicki Knauerhase (372-7834) if you have any questions or need additional information. In general, this packet is not appropriate if your primary goals are research. If you are interested in being in the CDC for research reasons, please pick up the Research Project Packet from the main desk at the CDC. If you are a student in a class, your professor may be the more appropriate person to fill out this form.

Please keep in mind that while the CDC is committed to being a facility where research and educational projects take place, we are also primary committed is to the provision of quality care to the children and families we serve. At times, a project may be turned down at least temporarily because there is already too much going on at the center. Some projects may be approved for some classrooms within the center but not for others. Educators can help maintain a positive relationship with the CDC by keeping the childrenís, familiesí and staffís interests first.

The Child Development Center (CDC) is an NAEYC accredited and Ohio licensed early childhood education program for two-and-one-half to five-year olds and is part of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Bowling Green State University. The maximum CDC population is comprised of 36 three-five years old children (half in morning session, half in afternoon session). From September to May there are two groups which meet from 8:30-11:30 mornings and from 1:00-4:00 afternoons, Monday through Friday. The Center follows the University schedule and is closed during final exams and holidays. During the first summer session, children attend 8:30-12:30 Monday through Thursday. Children may generally only be pulled out of the room during free choice time. The CDC staff is led by a head teacher with a Masters degree. The other staff is comprised of undergraduate students.

PROCEDURES FOR EDUCATION PROJECTS WITH CHILDREN/STAFF/FAMILIES

in the

Child Development Center (CDC)

The Application for Education Projects with Children/Families/Staff in the CDC must be completed and returned to:

All requests are first reviewed by the an appropriate representative from the CDC. If initially approved, it will be further reviewed by a parent representative as appropriate. This procedure takes approximately 3-7 days from the time a completed application is received.

The application is intended to cover a broad range of educational project possibilities -- from observation to direct interaction with children. The application should be completed with the following considerations in mind:

1. The application should be typed or written legibly in ink and should be written to be understood by parents, teachers and faculty. All approved applications will be posed where a parent would have access to review.

2. The CDC will cooperate to whatever extent possible to provide space for educational projects, however there is no guarantee of space, particularly of quiet space.

3. Project staff are generally responsible for all required supplies for their activities.

4. Project times must be finalized with classroom teachers. Classroom activities (including field trips) take precedence over other activities.

5. Name tag(s) for each project staff member will be issued at the entrance to the CDC. This name tag must be worn by each project staff member at all times while working in the center. All project staff members must sign both in and out every time they enter the center.

6. Applications which are not approved will be returned for revision to comply with the CDC procedures or to be conducted elsewhere if space and/or appropriate populations are not available.

7. Confidentiality: In order to protect the privacy of the children/families/staff participating in the Center, we ask that you use a pseudonym in any written materials or class discussions. Observations of the children/families/staff should not be discussed except in professional settings. The primary project staff is responsible for ensuring that all completing the project are aware of this.

If your project will involve removing a child or group of children from their classroom, you should also review the Guidelines for Removing Children from Their Classroom in the CDC.

Any questions or problems with the application or procedures should be directed to Karen Freeman or Kris Amaya (353-7407).

The following guidelines are based on the Ethical Standards of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Child Development and are applicable to all projects with children, staff, and families in the Child Development Center, whether they participate directly in the activities or as control groups.

I. Rights of Children, Families, and Staff:

No matter how young the participant, s/he has rights that supersede the rights of the investigator of her/his behavior. In the conduct of projects, the responsible individual measures each procedure proposed against this principle and is prepared to justify her/his decisions.

II. Project Procedures:

No serious and/or permanent harm can be inflicted on any participant. However, ìserious harmî is difficult to interpret when you are dealing with psychological variables. For example, some studies might cause children to think about themselves in an unfavorable light. If they continued to feel bad about themselves, then they might become depressed. Part of the function of HSRB committees and the CDC Research Advisory Committee is to help researchers evaluate the potential risks involved in their studies in order to avoid inflicting harm on their participants. Researchers must outline potential risks/benefits of their research procedures in the application. Any project which in the judgment of the CDC Research Advisory Committee has possible harmful effects will not be permitted in the Center.

III. Informed Consent:

A. Informed consent requires that the parents and staff be given accurate information about the purpose and operations of each project in lay terms. Consent shall not be obtained from the parents through any claims of benefit to the individual participant. The right of the children, parents, and staff to refuse consent and/or to withdraw participation shall be respected.

B. Exceptions to the informed consent requirement will not be permitted unless so approved by a Human Subjects Review Board (for example, in cases where it is judged that securing such consent is inconsistent with the purpose and feasible conduct of the project and it is reasonable to conclude that a person would have no objection to participation). In such cases, the project shall be presented to parents in general terms and their right to refuse consent remains.

C. Parents and staff have the right to discuss the ramifications of any project procedure or findings with the individual responsible.

IV. Study Participation:

A. No individual shall be coerced into participating in a project. Each child or adult has the right to refuse and should be given the opportunity to do so.

B. Person(s) responsible for a project must respect the judgments of Center personnel regarding the participation of children in activities on any particular day.

V. Other Standards:

A. A participant's identity must be concealed in written and verbal reports of the results, as well as in informal discussions with students and colleagues.

B. The project staff shall not assume the role of diagnostician or counselor in reporting observations to parents or the staff except at the discretion of the CDC Research Advisory Committee.

 

I. General Information

A. Project Title

B. Name, address and phone number of Person(s) responsible for Project

C. If people other than the person responsible for the project will be at the CDC, indicate the number of students you expect to be completing the assignment at this site, how many times each student will be on site and average length per site visit.

D. Class Activity/Observation is/are for: _________________ (e.g., HDFS 224)

II. Proposed Project Description

A. Brief background of the project including purpose and educational significance.

B. Describe the specific activities children/families/staff will be involved in, including what types of responses they will be required to make. Specifically, will project involve only observation or will it involve direct interaction.

C. Confidentiality of Data: Briefly describe the precautions which will be taken to safeguard identifiable records of individuals.

III. Participants

A. Describe the number, age, sex, etc. of participants you expect to contact/observe through the CDC.

B. Indicate the number of sessions per individual and approximate length of each session

IV. Location of proposed activities: Describe where you plan to conduct your project.

V. Schedule (NOTE: If project is approved and project will occur on site, you will need to work out a more detailed time schedule for when you will be in the CDC.)

A. Projected project start date: __________________

B. Anticipated completion date: __________________

C. If possible, fill in a grid with tentative times you would like to be in the CDC (this will at least give us a rough idea of # of hours per week, etc.). If you are having an entire class at the center, indicate which students will be in which classrooms and when.

VI. Certification: Sign the attached form (CDC Education Project Certification) and submit with these materials

VII. Submit in duplicate:

Anticipate at least a 3-7 day turn-around period. In some cases, longer review may be required.

 

I am familiar with the use of Human Subjects in research, the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association, and the Child Development Center Procedures. I subscribe to the standards described therein and will adhere to these policies and procedures in this project. If appropriate, a copy of Human Subjects Review Board approval is attached. Should changes in procedures involving human subjects become necessary, I will submit them for review prior to initiating the change. If any problems involving human subjects emerge, I will immediately notify the Director of the Child Development Center and the Human Subjects Review Board.

 All persons in addition to project supervisor who will interact with children/staff/families must be informed and understand the guidelines and then sign below (Add extra Lines if needed)

Date Received: __________________________________ CDC Project No.: __________________

Reviewed by:

Comments:

All children must be signed in and out of the classroom. If a child participates in your projects in the classroom, it is still helpful for us to know the information so that parents can be informed if their child has/has not participated in a given project.