Your Face is the Clue!

For 4- to 6-year-olds

This study will take place on a video call, live with a researcher! Clicking on the “Schedule a time to participate” button will send you to an online calendar where you can select a date and time that works for you. Your child will meet two puppets on screen and hear a short story to learn about them. Then, they'll get to play a fun game with secret snack boxes, where they use facial expressions to help or trick the puppets. The session ends with an illustrated story game where your child helps figure out what a character believes about a hidden object.

We’re interested in how children learn to use facial expressions not just to reflect emotion, but to communicate strategically. Research has shown that even young children can smile to be polite when disappointed or use words and gestures to mislead others. But one important question remains: can children deliberately use facial expressions to shape what someone else thinks or believes about the world? This study explores that question by asking whether children will adjust their expressions to help a nice puppet or trick a mean one. Understanding this ability offers valuable insight into a key milestone in social development, realizing that facial expressions can be powerful tools for influencing what others know, believe, and expect.

15 - 20 minutes

As a token of appreciation, you will receive a $5 Amazon.com e-gift card within 2 weeks of completing this study. You are eligible for this compensation if your child is in the eligible age range and visible on the Zoom call for the duration of the study and has not participated in the study before.