Lab Use

Information for observing in the Child & Family Studies Laboratory

Observation Rules:

Please read and know this information BEFORE you come to observe:

1. Please check in with the secretary in 1100 JFSB who will direct you to the available preschool or kindergarten booth. You must present your student or state issued ID when you check in. No appointment is necessary to observe.
2. Please do not enter a classroom.
3. You may not park in our parking stalls. These are reserved for CFSL parents only; you will be ticketed if you use these stalls to park.
4. Due to a limited number of adults that can fit in each observation booth, please complete your assignment several days prior to its due date. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have any symptoms, please come after you are symptom free.
5. Do NOT take any pictures or videos of the children.
6. Overhead sound will be turned on in the booths. Do not adjust the overhead sound.
7. You may check out headphones with the secretary with your BYU ID card. Headphones are helpful if you are interested in focusing on a specific part of the room. Unfortunately, modern headphone jacks will not work in our booths so headphones must be borrowed from the secretary.
8. The booths are not open to observers before or after class.
9. For the safety of the children, you may not observe outside when the children go outside for recess.
10. Please speak softly while in the booths since children can hear voices above a whisper. Be aware parents are also in the booth observing so please avoid discussing individual children to be respectful to those around you.

You may NOT observe outside when the children go to recess.

*Bolded times are the best times to come to see children during free play activities.

Policy for research in the School of Family Life (SFL) Child & Family Studies Laboratories (CFS Labs)

1. BYU faculty who wish to access children, parents, and/or teachers from the CFS Labs for the purpose of conducting research need to email the director at anne_ure@byu.edu by August 1st for consideration for fall semester and December 1st for winter semester. Please reach out prior to submitting an IRB proposal to discuss the details of the research and a desired timeline. Approval will be given by August/December 15th. Any research proposal submitted beyond the August 1st deadline will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
2. After notification of acceptance, obtain IRB approval.
3. After the BYU IRB approval is secured, please provide a copy of the IRB approved proposal to the Director of the CFSL. The IRB proposal will be reviewed by the director of the School of Family Life and the CFSL Steering Committee to evaluate the research proposal for procedures and methodology (e.g., is the protocol appropriate for the age-groups). If they determine that there is a problem with the protocol and or methodology, he/she will consult with at least one or more Steering Committee member in resolving the concern.
4. The Steering Committee and CFS Labs director will do the best they can to accommodate all reasonable BYU research projects (for example, stagger start times within semesters, alternating semesters, etc.).
5. In the event there are multiple or competing/conflicting research demands for use of the labs in any given semester, the CFSL Steering Committee will evaluate all competing proposals using the following guidelines:
   1. BYU faculty research has priority over graduate student research.
   2. BYU faculty research from the College of Family Home and Social Science has priority over faculty research from other colleges.
   3. One consideration in assessing priority will be whether the proposed research project will be helpful to a faculty member seeking continuing faculty status.
6. Appeal process: In the event that the research petitioner has a disagreement with the decision of the SFL Steering Committee's ruling regarding research priority, scheduling, or appropriateness a written appeal can be made to the School of Family Life Executive Council (SFL Director and Executive Council) who will render a final decision.

Please contact the director Anne Ure at anne_ure@byu.edu if there are any questions.

Research Request Form: Download