By Brenna C. LeJeune, M.S.

I am a graduate student in the Indiana University Purdue University Department of Psychology who is looking for internationally adopted babies and toddlers to participate in a research study for my dissertation. This purpose of this study is to learn about the relation between the development of social skills and language learning in the months following adoption. Previous research has suggested that normally-developing babies use certain social skills to learn language. For example, they make nonverbal gestures that adults understand as requests for object names and communicate without words that they wish to play or interact on a social level. However, at this time, very little is known about how these skills are used by internationally adopted children who have been exposed to other languages and are now learning English for the first time. By looking at videotapes of newly adopted babies interacting and playing with adults, we hope to learn how these babies use social skills and determine which factors are most important in helping them to begin learning English.

We are currently looking for babies and toddlers between 6 and 36 months of age who have been adopted from non-English-speaking nations and have been in the U.S. less than 12 months. Participation in the project usually requires a single visit to the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis (if your baby qualifies for a study that involves examining how he or she develops over time, you will be notified of this during the first session and you can decide at that time whether you would be interested in continuing in the study or not). The entire procedure will take about 90 minutes to complete. During this time, we will videotape interactions between your child and an examiner and then record playtime between you and your child. We will measure your baby's cognitive and motor development by administering the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. This will help us to better understand how differences among babies' language and social abilities relate to other aspects of their development. Your baby will be seated on your lap or next to you throughout the entire session. While you're here, we will ask you to fill out a survey related to your child's language development, history as an international adoptee, and social behavior at home. This can be done as your child is tested (or while he or she plays in our playroom). Before you leave, your child will receive a small "thank you" gift for participating.

Parking is provided in front of our building for your convenience. If you are interested in having your baby participate in the study, please call us at (317) 274-4930. A research assistant will take your name, phone number, and your child's birth date and will answer any questions that you might have. Although we cannot provide information about your baby's performance at the time of testing, you will receive regular updates on our findings throughout our laboratory newsletter. I hope that you are interested in helping us learn more about this special group of language learners!

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