Guidelines for Conducting Research at Hoya Kids Learning Center

As Georgetown University is a research university, as stated in the University Mission Statement, it is appropriate and in our best interest to support that mission by making provisions for a limited amount of research to occur at Hoya Kids Learning Center. It is also paramount that we consider the health, safety, and emotional well being of each child enrolled, while protecting the privacy of families who wish not to participate.

The HKLC research committee has established guidelines for investigators to guide the proposal submission and review process. The committee is comprised of parents, teachers, faculty, and an Early Childhood consultant, who will meet 4 times per year to review, and either defer, approve, or reject research proposals that have already received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. The investigator is encouraged to work with the director of HKLC during the protocol development phase to facilitate approval.

Procedure

1. Researcher will submit application to the HKLC research committee.
2. After approval, the researcher will then submit their proposal to the IRB.
3. The HKLC research committee will then review the approved protocol, consent and IRB approval for final

HKLC approval. If the researcher already has IRB approval, he/she is asked to please submit the application along with the approved protocol, consent, and IRB approval.

Quarterly Review Dates

*The Toddler classroom will initially only be eligible for study if it is conducted with the children on the playground, with the investigator observing from outside the fence. At this time no one-on-one interaction will be permitted. Expansion of study with this age group will be considered at a later time.

*The other classrooms in the Center are eligible within the guidelines below.

When considering proposals, the committee will examine the benefits of the study. Preference will be given to studies that will benefit the field of Early Childhood Education or Child Development and will potentially yield novel information.

• Risks involved with each study will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• Names and pictures of children shall not be used.
• During any study, the investigator(s) will not be left alone with a child at any time. This is the same policy that we hold for employees of Hoya Kids Learning Center.
• One on one interactions with children shall occur at times that are least disruptive to the class and to the child. The investigator will need to consult with the appropriate classroom teacher(s) to coordinate this.
• Any time one on one child interaction is involved, the investigator should make every effort to present the interaction/activity as an attractive option to avoid making the child feel as if he/she is being treated differently or isolated.
• Hoya Kids Learning Center reserves the right to stop or pause the study at any time if the study does not seem to be going as expected.

At this time all research will be limited to Georgetown University faculty, staff, and students. Observation, however will be open to Students and/or professionals in the Early Childhood / Child Development (or related) field.

*All Investigators must submit the following documentation prior to Project review:

• Resume or CV
• Letter of reference
• Results of a current TB test
• D.C. Criminal Background check

Investigators will be asked on the application if they have a relationship with anyone involved in the center. This includes parents, teachers, committee members, etc.

The HKLC research committee places strict limits on the number of projects that are approved each quarter, and will make their decision(s) based on what the director and teachers feel the center and its families can handle during that quarter.

Hoya Kids Learning Center expects that investigators will keep in verbal contact with Center staff regarding progress.

Hoya Kids Learning Center and its families expect that the final published report be shared upon completion. HKLC families and staff would like to be invited to all paper presentations, and may ask the investigator to conduct a presentation at the Center when the information is of particular interest.

HKLC welcomes inquires regarding proposed research topics.

Many times we receive requests for observation only, that is not a part of a research project and yields no hard data. These individuals are often students of early childhood education or seeking to learn more for professional development reasons. In these cases, observers will follow all above guidelines (see asterisks) but will not be required to go through the committee approval process. The director, in consultation with classroom teachers, will review and grant or deny these requests individually.

There may be cases in which studies are conducted off-campus but the investigator requests to advertise to parents of HKLC to determine their interest in participating in a study. In that case, the same requirements for review and approval as described above will apply. This is in order to offer the parents and children the same assurances of safety and privacy.