Using Tablets to Collect Data From Young Children

Abstract

Mobile, touch-screen devices are increasingly ubiquitous in children’s lives. The extensive use of such devices presents an exciting opportunity for data collection. We describe a simple method for creating cross-platform, interactive tablet experiments using open Web-based resources. We illustrate this method by collecting data from 1- to 4-year-old children in a word-recognition paradigm, using 3 different techniques: tablets, eye tracking, and an in-person storybook paradigm. Both accuracy and reaction-time data from the tablet compared favorably with the other methods. Tablets should be considered as a viable method for collecting low-cost, well-controlled developmental data.

ORCID

Michael C. Frank

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7551-4378

Notes

¹ Our work has used the Apple iPad as the primary tablet platform, and we provide details that are tailored for this platform. Unlike other methods, however, our method is in principle portable to a wide range of mobile devices with only very minor modifications.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a John Merck Scholars award to MCF.