Child Development Research Gathered on a Single Platform: Science-Loving Children

Bilimsever Çocuklar, which gathers online scientific research in the field of child development conducted at universities in Turkey and abroad under a single roof, makes visible studies that examine different developmental processes in different age groups. Aimed at children, families and educators, the platform also facilitates collaboration between researchers working on similar topics.

Scientists studying child development often conduct their work in laboratories, schools or by visiting families in their homes. However, the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed researchers, especially those conducting research with children and families, to develop new methods. For example, some of the studies are now conducted online, with video interviews with children. Around the world, much child development research has rapidly moved online.

This new working order also witnessed the birth of a brand new platform: Science Loving Children. Spearheaded by Dr. Lecturer Berna Uzundağ from the Department of Psychology at Kadir Has University. Dr. Berna Uzundağ from the Department of Psychology at Kadir Has University, Dr. Aslı Erciyes from the Department of Psychology at KHAS and Dr. Aslı Erciyes from the Department of Psychology at Koç University. Prof. Dr. Aslı Erciyes from KHAS Psychology Department and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tilbe Göksun and Prof. Dr. Aylin Küntay from Koç University Psychology Department.

“Bilimsever Çocuklar, which we established to create a platform where online studies for children, families and educators are introduced, brings together studies on understanding child development, both those conducted remotely and those conducted in the laboratory, school or home environment,” says Dr. Uzundağ. Dr. Uzundağ states that it is also very important that this platform presents many studies by different researchers from universities in Turkey and abroad that examine developmental processes in different age groups.

DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT GOALS, DIFFERENT PERIODS

The science of child development is a field that is studied not only by researchers from the field of psychology, but also by researchers from other fields such as educators and pediatricians. Currently, the studies on Bilimsever Çocuklar are mainly conducted by researchers working in the psychology and education departments of universities. The platform, which currently includes research from 15 different institutions, includes the work of not only faculty members working at universities, but also graduate and doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers working with these faculty members.

Along with the diversity of the institutions on the Bilimsever Çocuklar platform, the diversity of research areas is also striking: For example, the website includes studies covering both cognitive and social-emotional development areas such as children’s curiosity and exploration behaviors, language and communication development, imagination, and frugality behaviors. When we classify the studies according to age groups, we see that studies are collected under various categories such as 0-2 years covering the infancy period, 3-5 years corresponding to the kindergarten period, 6+ years covering the primary school period, and research for young people/adolescents. Dr. Uzundağ said, “Bringing all these studies together under a single roof creates a wealth for researchers. For example, a researcher who examines the studies on this platform can keep track of who is currently working on which topics, and this can contribute to the development of science by facilitating cooperation between researchers.”

The platform includes details of more than 30 studies. You can not only participate in research, but also add your own research to the platform. So how does the process of adding research work? Who can add their research to the site? Dr. Uzundağ explains the process as follows:

“In order for a study to be added to Bilimsever Çocuklar, it must be approved by an ethics committee. In order to determine the appropriateness of each step to be taken in research with humans, research must be approved by ethics committees. We accept studies that meet this requirement and at the same time concern the development of children and young people. Researchers who want to add their research should click on the ‘Add Your Study’ section on the website and write the necessary information about their research. At this stage, we ask the researchers for some information such as who the study is suitable for (e.g. expectant mothers or babies in the 0-2 age group), how it was conducted, and how long it lasted. If the study is appropriate, we add it to the website and promote it on social media.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Scientists urge parents and educators to take part in studies on child development. Through these studies, researchers can better understand child development, both early and later in life, and share information with the public that can have a more positive impact on children’s development. For example, based on the results of scientific research, it is possible to say that talking to children a lot and using different words, telling stories and fairy tales to young children and reading books together strengthen the development of children’s language and communication skills!

Dr. Uzundağ says that in order to strengthen child development in all areas and to convey up-to-date scientific information to parents and educators, they need children and parents to participate in research, and that families and educators also discover unknown aspects of children through their answers:

“Apart from advancing science, families have fun participating in these activities. Sometimes children like the games they play so much that they want to participate in the same activity again. The activities become an activity for the children and the families observe their children during these activities, see how their children answer questions that they would not ask in daily life and get new information about them.”

Bilimsever Çocuklar platformunu şu bağlantılar üzerinden takip edebilirsiniz:
Web: bilimsevercocuklar.com
Instagram: @bilimsevercocuk
Twitter: @cocukbilimsever