Conduct Research
Study how children grow, learn, and thrive
The Child Development Lab (CDL) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a university-based early childhood program where teaching, learning, and research intersect every day. Researchers partner with the CDL to explore questions about child development, learning, family life and early education in a real-world classroom environment.
Whether you arrive with a fully developed research protocol or an emerging idea, the CDL provides a collaborative setting to design and conduct meaningful research with young children.
Why conduct research at the CDL?
A living early childhood environment
Our center serves children from infancy through preschool in thoughtfully designed classrooms where development, play, and learning unfold daily, creating a rich setting for studying early childhood in action.
Dedicated research facilities
The Frances & Elliot Lehman Family Research Center, connected to the CDL, includes laboratory spaces designed for studies with young children, along with observation booths, cameras, and two-way mirrors that support discreet observation and recording.
Classroom observation infrastructure
Researchers may also observe in select classrooms equipped with cameras and observation booths, allowing studies to take place within authentic early learning environments.
A community that values research
Our teachers, staff, and families understand the importance of research in improving early childhood education and supporting children’s well-being.
A collaborative research environment
Some researchers arrive with a fully developed study ready for implementation. Others come with an idea they want to explore further. We support both, working with researchers to design studies that fit naturally within the rhythms of classrooms while keeping children’s well-being at the center.
Meet the team
How the research process works
1. Start the conversation
Researchers connect with CDL leadership to discuss their research interests or proposed study.
2. Explore fit and design
Our staff work with researchers to determine how the study may fit within the classroom environment.
3. Secure approvals
All projects must receive approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and CDL leadership.
4. Conduct research
Researchers coordinate with teachers and staff to carry out their study.
5. Share findings
Researchers share results with our teachers, staff and families so insights can inform practice.
Ready to partner with the CDL?
The Child Development Lab welcomes collaboration with researchers interested in advancing knowledge about children, families, and early learning.
Whether you are developing a new idea or preparing to launch a study, we invite you to start the conversation.