Children’s Emotion Regulation: A Naturalistic Study of Negative Emotions Expressions in the Home

This is a descriptive study based on a naturalistic video-based investigation of children and parents in their homes. For one week, videographers filmed parents and their children (aged 8-12) in their homes and in community settings. We will be examining instances of children’s expressions of negative emotions in 30 families by watching video footage and coding a series of descriptive variables, such as the cause, target, duration, and intensity of the expressions. This study will help to develop a broader picture of how, when, and why children express negative emotions and how these variables are associated with mood and anxiety and physiological stress indices. Emotion expression in children is typically examined in laboratory settings or via self-report measures, so this will give RAs an opportunity to be involved in a novel approach to emotion research. There is a possibility for RAships to extend into Fall quarter if students are interested in continuing with the next stages of the project.

Requirements

1. 8-10 hours per week throughout the summer sessions (hours are flexible except for one hour weekly meeting to be scheduled).
2. No research experience required.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and an unofficial copy of your grades or degree progress report to meredithsears[at]ucla.edu