Observing how toddlers react to strangers
Official title: The Malleability of Social Group Understanding in Infancy and Early Childhood
Run by University of California Santa Cruz · NCT06550206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how toddlers aged 13 to 24 months react to strangers of different races to see if their surroundings affect their feelings about unfamiliar people.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 13 Months to 24 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California Santa Cruz Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Santa Cruz, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 30, 2024 |
| Main results expected | October 2025 |
| Study ends | October 2025 |
| Registry record updated | March 11, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06550206 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are typically developing toddlers aged 13 to 24 months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with known developmental delays may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates how toddlers aged 13 to 24 months respond to unfamiliar adults from different racial backgrounds. It involves a one-hour visit to a lab where toddlers will interact with two adults while being video recorded. Parents will complete surveys about their demographics and social networks to help researchers understand the influence of familiar social environments on children's stranger wariness. The goal is to assess variations in toddler responses based on factors like race and neighborhood diversity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into early social development and inform strategies to foster positive social interactions in diverse environments.
How similar studies have gone: While studies on toddler social behavior exist, this specific focus on racial background and neighborhood diversity is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * typically developing * age 13-24 months Exclusion Criteria: \- any known developmental delays
Where it's running
-
Social Science 2 Building
Santa Cruz, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hyesung Hwang, PhD — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Seaera Juarez, BS
- Email: serjuare@ucsc.edu
- Phone: (760) 895-3878
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.