How infants and young children understand social groups and race
The malleability of social group understanding in infancy and early childhood
This study looks at how babies and young kids notice and interact with people from different races to see how their early experiences shape their feelings and behaviors about race.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10912732 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how infants and young children perceive and interact with individuals from different racial backgrounds. It aims to understand the cognitive processes behind their preferences and behaviors towards same-race and different-race individuals. By examining the impact of early social experiences with diverse groups, the study seeks to uncover how these experiences shape children's understanding of race and influence their social behaviors. The research will involve observing infants' reactions and behaviors in various social contexts to gather data on their cognitive reasoning about race.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are infants and young children aged 0 to 11 years, particularly those who have had varying levels of exposure to racially diverse environments.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or those who have not had any exposure to diverse racial groups may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for fostering inclusivity and reducing racial biases in early childhood development.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown mixed results regarding infants' social preferences based on race, indicating that this area of study is both relevant and in need of further exploration.
Where this research is happening
Santa Cruz, United States
- University of California Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Hyesung Grace — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Hyesung Grace
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.