Studies for Children

The PANTHERS Project is a remote home-based research project providing support to families with an infant at risk for behavior problems. Our goal is to provide families with strategies and knowledge about early childhood behavior and development. You might be eligible if your child is between 12 months to 18 months, you speak either English or Spanish, and you have concerns about your child’s behavior. To confirm your eligibility into the study, please call us at 305-520-9713 to complete a screening evaluation. Visit our PANTHERS Project/Proyecto PANTERAS page for additional information.

Do you speak Spanish? Do you have a baby between 18 and 20 months old? Would you like to earn $200 for using a new app that can help increase your baby's vocabulary?

If you meet the above requirements, you may qualify to participate in a research study at Florida International University (FIU).
-  The study consists of two 30-60 minute sessions, with the use of the app for 2 months.
- Both sessions are virtual.
- You will attend Zoom meetings with your baby.
- A researcher will accompany you in the sessions.

You'll receive $100 cash for participating at both the start and the end of the study. Will send cash through zelle, venmo or cashapp. The information collected in this study will be kept confidential and secure.

If you are interested and would like more information, email Annalyn Velasquez at hablamebebe@fiu.edu to coordinate a phone appointment and determine if you qualify for the study. Read the recruitment flyer for the Spanish version.

Free evidence-based treatment program where youth (ages 3-17) learn healthy ways of coping with their feelings, while caregivers learn stress management, parenting and behavior management skills, and communication skills. As a result, caregivers are better able to manage their own emotional distress and support their child more effectively. Read the TF-CBT flyer, Call 305-348-5885 or email tfcbt@fiu.edu for more information.

The focus of the study is to learn how to support children who enter kindergarten and are the youngest in the grade (those born in the months immediately preceding the school entry cut-off). as they are at risk for such outcomes as grade retention, referral to special education, and being diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 

There is no fee for participating in this study.  If you have any questions or if you would like to have a meeting to further discuss the project, please feel free to contact Dr. Greg Fabiano, Professor Clinical Psychology at FIU and Principal Investigator of the study at gfabiano@fiu.edu, 716-359-7823. 

La información sobre el estudio está disponible en español aquí.

FIU Department of Psychology is looking for children who are 4 years of age (between 46 months and 50 months of age) and 5 years of age (between 58 months and 62 months of age) for an Attention and Learning in Early Childhood (ALEC) study. This study is conducted over zoom across two sessions.Each session will last approximately 1 hour and will be scheduled one week apart. Children will watch short videos, complete a naming game and some shape and memory games, and play with their caregiver in a 10-minute play session. Families will receive a $20 target gift card after the first session and a $30 target gift card after the second session. If interested, read the study flyer, fill out the screening form: https://go.fiu.edu/alec, call: 305-348-9055 or email: alec@fiu.edu.

The Department of Psychology at FIU is currently conducting a study on the brain and spatial abilities in young children (ages 4-6) who've never been diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder. Participants will spend about 30 minutes to an hour completing an MRI brain scan and an hour completing learning and spatial memory tasks. Families will receive a $150 for their child's participation in the study. Interested families: read the Project Seahorse flyer, complete the screener, call 305-348-9055 or email plsd@fiu.edu.

We are recruiting kids ages 6-12 with behaviors consistent with ADHD to participate in a summer research study.

Lots of kids with ADHD get extra help in school, like more time for assignments, frequent breaks, or preferential seating. But we don't know enough about how well these supports really work and for whom.

This study will help us discover the best ways to support each child with ADHD.

For eight weeks over the summer (June 10th-Aug. 2nd, 2024), we'll explore positive behavior supports, medication, and classroom accommodations to see what works best for each child.

Participating in this study will help you understand what truly works for your child, so they can begin the new school year equipped with the tools and strategies that works best for them.

You can also download the flyer here.

The Adaptive Supports Provided in Regular Education Settings (ASPIRES) Program is a research program for elementary-aged students who could benefit from extra help with concentration, staying on-task, and following directions in the classroom. There is no fee for participating in this study. All progress monitoring reports and treatments are provided as part of the study. Visit the ASPIRES Program page learn more.

Join the FIU Mint Program’s “Latino OCD Study” and help us advance Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research to create a better future for Latinos. We are looking for participants ages 7-89 who have or have had in the past any symptoms of OCD (no diagnosis needed) and have Latin American, Hispanic or Brazilian ancestry.

Our study goals include:

• Collaborate with 15 countries to diversify Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research
• Identify genetic factors of OCD
• Improve future OCD research

Your child’s brain activity will be measured during computer and social tasks. You and your child will complete surveys regarding thoughts and feelings. For completing the 3-hour study protocol, you will receive $100 in compensation, plus $20 for travel expenses. For more details, read the study flyer.

Buscamos familias de niños entre 8-10 años de edad para un estudio sobre cambios sociales y desarrollo cerebral. La actividad cerebral de su niño/a será medida durante actividades sociales y computarizadas. Usted y su niño/a completarán encuestas acerca de pensamientos y emociones. Por completar el protocolo de 3 horas del estudio, recibirá $100 en compensación, además de $20 por gastos de viaje. Para más detalles, lea el folleto del estudio.

Does your 10- to 14-year-old get nervous or scared in social situations (school, restaurants, social gatherings)? He or she may qualify to participate in a research study to reduce their social anxiety. If eligible, your child will be randomly assigned to one of two interactive computer programs. Eligible participants will complete eight 15-minute sessions during a four-week period. Families will be compensated $600 for completing four study assessments. Services are offered in both English and Spanish. There is no waiting period to participate in this treatment study. Read the CAPP study flyer, email capp@fiu.edu or call 305-348-1937 to learn more.

We are studying how children, ages 10-14 with and without anxiety pay attention to pictures of faces. Attention to faces influence our feelings and behaviors in situations that involve other people. If eligible, your child will complete computer tasks while we measure their attention. You and your child will also respond to surveys. Families will be compensated $350 for completing four study assessments. The study is offered in both English and Spanish. There is no waiting period to participate in this study. Read the study flyer, email capp@fiu.edu or call 305-348-4254 to learn more. 

La información sobre el estudio está disponible en español aquí.

The LEMUR study looks at the role of sleep in processing emotional experiences among children with/without anxiety ages 10-13. We hope that by studying the impact of sleep on emotional experiences, we can learn more about child anxiety. Participating children do not need to have a problem with sleep to participate. Study visits would take place 3 times over the course of 3 years, with 18 months in between each study visit. All participants will be compensated $1500 total ($500/visit) for completing all parts of the study.  

Read the flyer or visit our website to learn more. 

To contact the LEMUR Study, you can fill out our contact form, text/call (305) 209-0136, or send an email to LEMUR-STUDY@FIU.EDU .

Your child’s brain activity will be measured during computer and social tasks. You and your child will complete surveys regarding thoughts and feelings. For completing the six study visits, you will receive $600 in compensation, plus $60 for travel expenses. For more details, visit the study website.

Buscamos familias de niños y adolescents entre 10-13 años de edad para un estudio sobre cambios sociales y desarrollo cerebral. La actividad cerebral de su niño/a será medida durante actividades sociales y computarizadas. Usted y su niño/a completarán encuestas acerca de pensamientos y emociones. Por completar las 6 visitas del estudio, recibirá $600 en compensación, además de $60 por gastos de viaje. Para más detalles, visita el sitio web del estudio.

• Are you the caregiver/parent of a Latino/Hispanic (pre)teen (9-15)? 
• Are you interested in participating in research (doctoral dissertation study)? 
• Groups/Interviews provided in Spanish & English 

If you answered yes, you may qualify to participate in a focus group or a cognitive interview (complete a survey and complete an interview about the survey) which will help to develop a questionnaire specifically designed to look at temperament (general reactions and control of these reactions) among Latino/Hispanic youth in the U.S. Participation is completely voluntary. 

Groups: One, 2-hour Zoom group; ~4 caregivers/parents; paid $60; groups available Sunday-Wednesday in July 

Interviews: One, 90-minute Zoom appointment; paid $45; interviews available Sunday-Wednesday in October & November 

To learn more or sign up click on this flyer.

We are recruiting typically developing infants and children (3 months through 9 years of age) for our exciting study establishing the basic building blocks of social, cognitive, and language development.

• Two or more virtual Zoom 1-hour visits to fit your schedule
• Your child will watch interesting videos of people or objects
• You will receive $40 -$90 for your time and effort
• Funded by the National Institutes of Health

Your child can contribute to scientific discovery!

For more information or to enroll, email us at babylab@fiu.edu or call 305-348-2842

Visit our web page to sign up and for additional information about our research.

We're seeking Hispanic/Latino Parents' Insights on Anxiety Treatment Perspectives, Cultural Values, and Parenting Practices: We’re interested in learning more about Hispanic/Latino parents’ perspectives on treatment for anxiety and also about parents’ cultural values and parenting practices. Your participation involves completing a few questionnaires and an interview. The total participation time would be 60-90 minutes via Zoom at a time that is convenient for you. Participants will receive $50 via Zelle or Venmo for completing the study. This study does not involve treatment. The purpose of the study is to speak with Hispanic/Latino parents about their perspectives on treatment and parenting.

Buscamos las perspectivas de padres hispanos/latinos sobre el tratamiento de la ansiedad, los valores culturales y las prácticas de crianza: Estamos interesados en aprender más sobre la perspectivas de los padres Hispanos/Latinos sobre el tratamiento para la ansiedad infantil y los valores culturales y crianza de niños. Su participación involucra completar unos cuestionarios y una entrevista. El tiempo de participación total es de 60 a 90 minutos a través de Zoom en el tiempo que sea conveniente para usted. Los participantes recibirán $50 a través de Zelle o Venmo al completar el estudio. Este estudio no involucra ningún tratamiento. El propósito del estudio es hablar con padres Hispanos/Latinos acerca de sus perspectivas en tratamiento y crianza. 

Parents can call or text 305-349-3337 or email florastudy.fiu@gmail.com for more information.