The Audiobook Learning Initiative study (ALI) is designed to investigate how to best support struggling readers, especially during the summer. Some children will have access to audiobooks and check-ins with our educators as a way to improve children’s reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and vocabulary. Other children will receive access to a mindfulness program for the first 8 weeks to support their social and emotional well-being.
What is my commitment?
> Total participation in this study will consist of 8 weeks of free, unlimited access to a large audiobook library or mindfulness app.
> All participants will get access to the other resource at the end of the study. Participants in the audiobook group are expected to listen to books for 60-90 minutes per week, and some will also receive check-ins from educators on the research staff twice a week.
> Caregivers will be asked to complete various surveys throughout the study.
> Children are expected to complete two to three (approximately 1-2 hour) testing sessions at the beginning and end of the study period.
We are happy to schedule study sessions around your schedule, including weekday late afternoons and weekends.
Caregivers will be provided a PDF (linked here) with some suggestions for supporting the participants’ audiobook listening and learning.
Participation: We are currently recruiting rising fourth graders to participate in this study.
Compensation
You will be paid for participating in all portions of our study at a rate of $20 per hour for your child’s testing sessions. Caregivers will be compensated $5 per survey (up to 10 surveys). You will receive a detailed report of your child’s scores that will describe each test and how your child’s scores compare to other children their age.
Contact us
Please contact us through email or our eligibility survey using the buttons below. Or call (617) 302-7344 with questions or for more information about the study.
