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Frequently Asked Questions

Curiosity in Classrooms Project FAQs

  • Who is conducting this research? 

    • The Research in Education and Learning (REAL) Lab at the University of Virginia, directed by Dr. Jamie Jirout. A small group of trained undergraduate and graduate research assistants will be helping with data collection and will be observing the classrooms.  

  • Who can participate?

    •  Any schools in Virginia with 2nd and/or 3rd grade classrooms are welcome to participate. ​

  • Why are you conducting this research?

    • No research has systematically looked at children’s curiosity in the classroom as it happens, yet we know that curiosity is a powerful motivator for learning. With this work, we hope to learn how children exhibit curiosity in their classrooms.  

  • Is the study approved by an ethics board? 

    • Yes. It is approved by UVA's Institutional Review Board (IRB #4880) which reviews all research involving human participants, including children.  

  • Have the researchers been background-checked? 

    • Yes. Every researcher who enters a classroom has completed a background check and all Human Subjects research training. We can provide documentation on request.  

  • What is involved in participating? 

    • We will quietly observe what is happening in the classroom, only observing those who provide consent. For one-on-one sessions with children, we will pull children aside for about 10-15 minutes at a time that works for the teacher.  

  • What exactly will you observe, and will it disrupt class? 

    • We observe instruction as it normally happens and take handwritten notes. There is no script, no filming, and nothing for teachers to change or prepare. Two to three researchers attend each visit and remain out of the way.  

  • What data do you collect, and how is it protected? 

    • We collect observation notes on activities students are doing and questions they’re asking on pen and paper (no additional technology in the room). All data is de-identified and stored securely on password protected servers. No individually identifiable student information appears in any report, presentation, or publication.  

  • What about student participation and parent consent? 

    • Only students whose parents provide written permission take part in the short activity. We will schedule a time with each classroom teacher to be able to pull students for the activity. Participating students receive a book of their choice.  

  • How much time does this take? 

    • We would like to observe 6–10 hours per classroom total, spread across multiple visits scheduled at each teacher's convenience, during the fall and winter. One-on-one sessions take 10-15 minutes per child.   

  • What do teachers and the school get? 

    • Participating teachers receive a $100 thank-you (in whatever form fits your policies). The school receives a findings report and optional professional development or presentations for staff and families.  

  • Who can we contact with questions? 

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