How much attention is actually required when pupils read specialist texts in English in subjects such as history or biology? This is what the team led by Prof. Dr. Nicole Wetzel from the Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology (LIN) is investigating in a current study. Study leader Dr Paula Ríos-López explains which young people can take part in the study.
What is the study about?
In grammar schools, bilingual education is increasingly being incorporated into the teaching concept. It is common for young people to read in English - not only to learn the language, but also to acquire specialised knowledge about geography or history. However, we do not yet know what impact reading in a foreign language has on knowledge acquisition. With this study, we want to find out whether the distraction of attention is different when reading specialised texts in German and in English. In order to be as close to reality as possible, we are using texts from real textbooks.
Who can participate?
We are currently looking for young people who attend the class 9 of a grammar school.
How can I register?
Those interested can register by e-mail at: dunja.kunke(at)lin-magdeburg.de or online at: https://www.lin-magdeburg.de/kinderstudien. There is also a short video clip where you can take a look at our lab and learn something about our research.
What happens after registration?
Registration is non-binding. If someone fits our study (in this case, he or she attends a 9th grade at a high school), we send all the information to the families and they decide whether they want to participate. Then we make an appointment individually.
How much time do the participants have to plan?
This study takes between 2 and 2.5 hours, during which the young people complete various tests on reading and attention. Parents do not have to be present the whole time, but they can of course.
Where and when does the study take place?
Our study takes place at the LIN in Brenneckestraße 6 by individual appointment.
What are the benefits of participation?
For most young people, taking part in an experiment is a new adventure that introduces them to the world of science. They perform interesting tasks and put themselves to the test while we measure their brain activity. They can observe their own brain activity or use the eye tracker to see how their pupil changes. We are happy about every young person who supports our research and thank them with a voucher for books, music or something else.
Can other children take part in LIN studies ?
Yes, we are currently conducting various studies on attention in which children aged 2 to 12 can participate. And we are currently looking for children aged 10 to 12 who play chess in a club. Families can also register without obligation via our website or send an email.