FAQs
When will I receive the Amazon gift card?
Our team sends out gift card codes every Tuesday and Thursday (excluding federal holidays). Please allow our staff 3-4 days to process your study submissions. The gift card code should be sent to the email you provided when you signed up for Developing Minds Online.
What do I do if I don’t receive the Amazon gift card?
If 4 days have passed and you haven’t received an email with the gift card code, it is possible that your video didn’t come through to us. Please contact our team via email at [email protected]. We will do our best to make sure you get compensated for your participation in a timely manner!
Is there a limit to how much I can earn in rewards?
While there is technically no limit to how much rewards you can earn, if you earn $200 or more in rewards for a calendar year, you will need to complete a tax form. We recommend playing games (which do not have rewards) if you would like to participate but do not want to fill out a tax form if you are close to earning $200+ in rewards.
What do I do if the study/game won’t load properly?
Please check your internet connection, and close all other tabs on your computer. If the game still won’t load, please contact the Developing Minds Online team at [email protected], along with your family name and the name of the study/game.
What if I decide I don’t want my child to participate?
You can stop the session at any point. All our studies are voluntary, and you don’t have to continue if you or your child don’t feel comfortable.
What if I don’t feel comfortable with being video recorded? Can I still participate?
Yes! You can still participate in the studies listed under the "Games" tab. These studies do not require a video recording but do not offer rewards for participating.
Occasionally, studies not requiring videos will also be uploaded to the "Studies" tab. It will be explicitly stated in the study description if that study does not require video.
Who will see/have access to my data?
Please refer to Developing Minds Online’s Privacy Policy page to get more information.
Is this research approved by the university?
Yes, all of the studies have approval from the University of Illinois IRB (Institutional Review Board). For more information about the University of Illinois’s rigorous research approval process, click here.
Where can I find some of your published research?
You can read about our lab’s publications on our website here.
I don’t let my kids use the computer. Can we still participate?
Unfortunately, Developing Minds Online requires your child to interact with a computer to play our games and for you to earn the reward. We do encourage parents and/or legal guardians to supervise their child while they play the game, so you have the option to stop your child’s game if you are ever uncomfortable.
I completed a study with my child, but I have some questions about it. Who can I ask?
Our Developing Minds Online research staff are always happy to help. Please email us at [email protected] along with the name of the study. We are more than happy to provide you with more information about the research we are doing.
Why don’t any studies show up for my child to participate in?
If there are no studies showing up for your child, it may be the case that
- Your child has completed all the studies we currently have available.
- There may be some studies you haven’t done but that your child is not eligible for (e.g., if they are out of the age-range).
Please check back often, as we post new studies frequently. We also encourage families to check out the Games, where you can play free games, anytime, when no studies are currently available! If you have questions about when a new study will be available for you, please contact us at [email protected].