The Children and Technology Lab

About the Lab

The Children and Technology Lab, led by Dr. Elizabeth Goldman, examines how young children can learn from both human and non-human social agents. Our research explores how children can learn from and engage with technological devices like robots, AI, and home assistants. For example, we investigate how children perceive robots and other non-human social agents based on their physical appearance and behaviors. Other topics of interest include children's selective learning (deciding whom to learn from), attribution of mental states (Theory of Mind), prosocial behavior, and moral understanding. many of these topics are explored through collaborations with researchers at other universities in the US and around the world. Currently the lab is testing children between the ages of 3-10, but this changes as new projects are started.

Ongoing Research

The lab is open during the academic year and through the summer. We frequently launch new projects. To make our research lab more inclusive and accessible to families, we offer opportunities for them to participate in person (at the lab space at Yeshiva University-Stern College for Women, 215 Lexington Avenue) and online through video conferencing.

Inaccurate Robot Study: Can children learn new words from a robot? Children are presented with two informants, a human, and a robot. The human provides accurate information (labels familiar objects correctly), and the robot provides inaccurate information (labels familiar objects incorrectly). In the test phase, novel objects are presented, and nonsense labels are used to see whom children will learn from. This is a follow-up study to another study we conducted.
Social Categorization Study: previous research reveals that children prefer in-group members. In this study, children draw a token from a bag and are randomly assigned to be members of the “red” or the “yellow” group. Children see videos of red and yellow group members performing conventional and unconventional actions. We ask children about whether they want to switch groups. Then, we show videos of the red and yellow group members playing with toys differently. We give the toys to the children and see how they play with them. Do they copy the actions of “their” group?
Morality Study: This study examines the moral development of children. In this study, children listen to vignettes (short stories) where the protagonist (humanoid robot, non-humanoid robot, or human – depending on the assigned condition) faces a moral dilemma. Figurines and visuals are used to depict the vignettes. After the story, we ask the children a few questions (1) a comprehension question – did they understand the story?, (2) a Moral assessment question – what should the character in the story do?, and (3) a Self-assessment question – what would the child do? Do children believe robots will hold the same morals and values as humans?
Inanimate Theory of Mind Study: This examines children’s theory of mind abilities (recognizing one has different feelings, information, and perspective than our own). In this study, children listen to a series of short vignettes (stories) illustrated with figurines. This is a follow-up study we are conducting using robots and inanimate objects (popsicle sticks). Will children attribute mental states to inanimate objects, like popsicle sticks?
Naïve Biology Study: This study aims to examine the development of children's biology knowledge. Do children know if something biological or mechanical should go inside robots, animals, mechanical objects, and plants? This study examines how parents’ professions (STEM versus non-STEM) influence children's biological learning.

Meet Our Research Team

The lab recruits students from both Stern and Wilf to join the research team as Research Assistants! Although many of our Research Assistants are psychology majors, we welcome students from any major. Research experience is valuable for students considering applying to graduate school or anyone looking to gain valuable skills. Students in the lab get a comprehensive research experience and are active participants in all phases of the research process (e.g., study design, pilot testing, participant recruitment, data collection, analyses, and writing research findings for publication). Some research assistants have completed their honors theses with Dr. Goldman and received authorship in peer-reviewed academic journals. Below is our current roster of research assistants:

Stern Students: Mikaela Amos, Kayla Berkowitz, Shoshana Besser, Maya Chen, Eliana Diamond (Honors Thesis Student), Shoshana Dubitsky, Deena Erdfarb (Honors Thesis Student), Orah Fisher, Gittel Friedman, Ally Hadge, Shira Hourizadeh, Ashley Kampeas, Esther Kantor, Rivky Kolodny, Beth Levin, Shirelle Maged (Honors Thesis Student), Chaviva Meyers, Elliana Minsky (Honors Thesis Student), Maia Purow (Honors Thesis Student), Sarah Rabitz, Jessia Raksi, Eliana Saibel, Leora Schramm, Miriam Sheinson, Alyssa Shtern, Liela Silbiger

Wilf Students: David Deutsch, Harry Meister, Ariel Lotman

Beth Levin and Maya Chen are lab students working on a project together that examines how young children form social categories.

Rivky Kolodny, Eliana Diamond, and Miriam Sheinson are lab students working on a project that examines young children’s moral reasoning.

Participating in the Studies

If you are interested in joining the lab as a research assistant, you should know a few important things:

No prior research experience is necessary; Dr. Goldman and current lab members will assist with training new students who join the team
As Dr. Goldman spends time training new team members, students must commit a minimum of two semesters to the lab. Students are welcome to stay in the lab longer (and many students do)
Most lab roles require a 3–4-hour commitment per week. However, many roles offer flexible hours, so students can elect when to focus on lab-related work.
All projects have a weekly team meeting. These meetings are in person, and it is vital that the team meets together so we can keep everyone informed of our progress.

Interested in learning more and joining the team? Fill out this interest form. Dr. Goldman will reach out and schedule interviews with applicants.

Do you have kids or know someone (a friend or family member) who has kids that might be interested in participating in research studies?

We offer opportunities for families to participate in research both online via video conferencing and in-person. Fill out this participant interest form.

Filling out the form does not commit you to participating in research but merely expresses interest. Our team will contact you to discuss ongoing studies. We are looking for infants and children up to 12 years of age.

Stern and YU students work presented at international and domestic research conferences:

Dr. Goldman travels to present research at Psychology Research Conferences. Student work is featured and students who contributed to the projects are given authorship on these conference presentations. Sometimes, students attend conferences, and Dr. Goldman introduces them to collaborators and well-known researchers in our field. Here are a few of the recent and upcoming conferences we have attended or plan to attend:

In the summer of 2024, Dr. Goldman presented research that featured YU students at the International Congress of Psychology.
YU Student Harry Meister will accompany Dr. Goldman as she presents research at the upcoming Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) conference in Minneapolis. Harry collected data for this project and will meet some of their collaborators at this psychology research conference.
Dr. Goldman will present data collected by Stern students Deena Erdfarb and Orah Fisher at the upcoming Jean Piaget Society conference this summer.

Dr. Goldman (left) and a colleague present a talk for the "Children’s and Adults’ Abilities to Learn from Robots" symposium at the 2024 International Congress of Psychology.

Publications in Academic Journals

"Children's anthropomorphism of inanimate agents" WIREs Cognitive Science, (July/August 2024)
"Do preschoolers trust a competent human pointer?" Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, (February, 2024)

FAQs

: Our research lab is located at the Stern campus on the 4th floor of 215 Lexington Avenue.
: No. The lab is open to students on both the Stern and Wilf campuses. Some work can be done remotely, meaning you do not necessarily need to be in the lab space to complete your lab tasks. Occasionally, Wilf students will be asked to come to the lab in Stern for in-person meetings.
: No. Prior experience is not necessary. Dr. Goldman and experienced research team members will provide all training needed! All that is required is a desire to work with children and families.
: Our students have demanding course loads, so when to get involved with research will vary. Dr. Goldman recommends joining a research lab before your final year so you have ample time to work on a project from start to finish. Always feel free to consult Dr. Goldman and the advising team about what would work best for you.
: Absolutely. We have several students who are not psychology majors. Research experience can be valuable for many different majors, and whether it is appropriate for you will depend on your goals.
: Dr. Goldman aims to involve students in all parts of the research process. Students are actively engaged in the design of the research study. Students also assist with collecting data, entering data, reviewing data, scheduling participants, recruiting new participants, analyzing the data using different statistical software, and writing up the project for publication.
: Yes, Dr. Goldman is available to mentor students completing their thesis. If interested, reach out to Dr. Goldman to discuss further.
: Yes, students who collect data or contribute significantly to the project can be added as co-authors on research publications and conference presentations.
: There are many different roles available. Some focus on collecting data, checking data collected, or scheduling families to participate in one of our many research projects. Students are matched to a project according to their interests and availability. Some roles, like testing participants and collecting data, require more hours than others.

Have questions? Want to learn more, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Goldman at elizabeth.goldman@yu.edu