e-Babylab: An Open-source Browser-based Tool for Unmoderated Online Developmental Studies

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic massively changed the context and feasibility of developmental research. This new reality as well as considerations, e.g., about sample diversity and naturalistic settings for developmental research, indicate the need for solutions for online studies. In this article, we present e-Babylab, an open-source browser-based tool for unmoderated online studies specifically targeted at studying young children and babies. e-Babylab offers an intuitive graphical user interface for study creation and management of studies, users, participant data, and stimulus material with no programming skills required. Various kinds of audiovisual media can be presented as stimuli and possible measures include webcam recordings, audio recordings, key presses, mouse-click/touch coordinates, and reaction times. Information pages, consent forms, and participant forms are all customizable. e-Babylab was used with a variety of measures and paradigms in 14 studies with children aged 12 months to 8 years (n = 1516). We briefly summarize some results of these studies to demonstrate data quality and that participants’ engagement and the overall results are comparable in lab and online settings. We then present in more detail one replication of an established preferential-looking paradigm with gaze directions manually coded from the webcam captures. Finally, we discuss useful tips for using e-Babylab and present plans for upgrades.

Tablet assessment of word comprehension reveals coarse word representations in 18–⁠20‐month‐old toddlers

“…The study was conducted via a custom-based online experimental platform developed by Lo et al (2021). In the laboratory setting, a Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 was used to run the study, whereas in the online setting, parents' own touchscreen devices were used.…”

A Global Perspective on Testing Infants Online: Introducing ManyBabies-AtHome

“…The past years have seen a lot of advances on this front: Platforms designed specifically for developmental research (e.g., Lo, Mani, Kartushina, Mayor, & Hermes, 2021;, as well as language-specific participant recruitment initiatives (e.g., ChildrenHelpingScience.com; KinderSchaffenWissen.de) are being developed, and online studies are being conducted (e.g., Rhodes, et al, 2020, Scott, Chu, & Schulz, 2017Tran, Cabral, Patel, & Cusack, 2017).…”

Online Developmental Research: Observations from Moderated Studies

“…Like in studies with children, conducting infant studies using online platforms does not always mean that the researcher will accompany the family. Some online infant study platforms and programs (e.g., Lookit ], e-Babylab [Lo, Mani, Kartushina, Mayor, & Hermes, 2021]) offer families the opportunity to participate in studies whenever they want, without a researcher's accompaniment. In these unmoderated studies, the looking time, gaze direction and listening time can be monitored after the study is completed through the video recording taken.…”