Conducting Research

As one component of Center for Child and Family Studies, the Early Childhood Lab School (ECLS) provides a diverse population of children and families with which research may be conducted.

Specifically the ECLS and CCFS staff may be engaged to:

  • Consult on research project design as it relates to developmentally appropriate practice and adult-child interaction strategies
  • Carry out pilot experiments
  • Train research assistants in research procedures and protocols
  • Implement research projects on-site
  • Recruit participation in on-going research projects

The ECLS program also provides opportunities for natural observation for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as visiting scholars.

While priority is given to Human Ecology faculty and graduate students, we welcome unsolicited proposals that align with the lab school directives from researchers with other campus affiliations. Researchers with approved projects who are committed to participating in lab school activities (e.g., engaging CCFS staff as project partners, publishing in ECLS newsletters, and/or presenting to CCFS staff) will receive preference.

Researchers interested in conducting projects at the CCFS must complete and submit an application. Consistent with other service providers across campus, fees for use of the CCFS site and/or resources may apply (see below). Early care and learning programs are historically underfunded and under-resourced; these fees help maintain site infrastructure and programs operations.

Project Type

Approval Process

  1. Review of document—CCFS Guidelines for Conducting Observation and Research.
  2. Participation in IRB Review and receipt of approval (if not already complete).
  3. Submission of  Applicationto ECLS Director/CCFS Academic Coordinator for initial review and assessment of feasibility.
    1. Required documents:
      1. UC Davis Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval Form, approved Description of Study, and approved recruitment materials and consent form
      2. Note: If a letter of the CCFS’ support is required to obtain IRB approval, this may be discussed with the CCFS Academic Coordinator. Once IRB approval is received, the full application will need to be approved by the CCFS Academic Coordinator and Department Advisory Committee (DAC)* prior to the research being conducted. Yearly IRB renewals and updates on IRB modifications that directly impact CCFS participants are to be submitted to the CCFS Academic Coordinator and DAC for as long as the research continues at the CCFS.
      3. Summary of the research project to be posted to the CCFS website
  4. If deemed appropriate (e.g., in alignment with CCFS mission, feasible with site resources and schedule of on-going projects, etc.), submitted to DAC sub-committee for CCFS Research for final approval
  5. Provision of acceptance/rejection notice within three weeks of submission
  6. Distribution of CCFS Research Service Agreement
    1. Agreement to Follow Guidelines
    2. Timeline to Implementation
    3. Fee Schedule/Billing Information