Ongoing Projects
Early Experience Project (Boston)
We know that the early childhood environment can have a long-term impact on one’s health. But how? In one line of work, our research explores how parents may have used information from their childhood to setup parts of their own development such as how they manage the transition to parenthood. In a related program of research, we are interested in how infants might be using information around them to influence their health and development (e.g., growth). We explore these questions using self-report measures and through the collection of saliva and cheek cells—an easy, non-invasive way to measure things like hormones.
See our FAQs page for more information.
Infant Activities Project (Boston)
Infants and young children navigate the world with the help of their parents. In this line of work, we ask infants and their caretakers to participate in activities together. This allows us to explore how a child navigates the environment and how they might use things around them (including a parent) to solve puzzles and problems.
See our FAQs page for more information.
Family Health Follow-up (California)
Has it been eight years already? Families in California reunite with Dr. Randy Corpuz and the FINCH team on an important follow-up to a project that started in 2015—when all participants (and Dr. Corpuz himself!) transitioned to first-time parenthood together. As with the original study, parents and children will contribute saliva to be analyzed for hormones related to stress, growth, and health and we will ask families to participate in structured exercises during home visits and reply to very brief text messages.
The conclusions that we can draw from longitudinal research—in this case, a study that spans years—with a sample of 200+ families will be invaluable to our understanding of motherhood, fatherhood, and child development. Thank you to all of the families who have been the stars of this research program for so long!
Co-parenting using technology (“Daddy-tech”) Project
According to census data, 30% of children do not share a home with both biological parents and, in a large portion of these households, the “non-resident” parent is the father. Modern technology (e.g, hi-speed wifi, FaceTime, Zoom, Nintendo Switch, Disney+) has made it increasingly possible to interact with loved ones, share experiences, create lasting memories, and form meaningful connections virtually. While sometimes portrayed as a poor substitute for in-person contact, “daddy-tech” makes it possible for some non-resident fathers to increase or enhance contact with their children in situations that might otherwise pose a barrier to interaction such as those found in long-distance co-parenting arrangements. As a father-focused lab, we are interested in how non-resident fathers are using technology to augment child interactions and how co-parents may be thinking collaboratively about options available to more routinely integrate “daddy-tech”.
In this pilot study, we are collecting data using online survey software from U.S. fathers who self-identity as “non-resident” status. All measures can be completed online (no lab/home visits required).