SRCD 2016
Special Topics Meeting on Technology and Media in Children's Development
Irvine, California
October 27-30

Important Dates


  • Mar 2 Submission system opens
  • Apr 6 Submission system closes
  • May 15 Doctoral Consortium Deadline
  • Aug 15 Pre-Conference Workshop Deadline
  • Oct 27 Conference begins
  • Oct 30 Conference ends

Sponsors




Call for Submissions


Call for Submissions: SRCD 2016 –


The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) invites you to submit for the 2016 Special Topic Meeting: Technology and Media in Children’s Development to be held at the University of California, Irvine from October 27-30, 2016.

Digital devices and social media have become ubiquitous in the environment of 21st century children. From the moment of birth (and even in utero), children and adolescents are surrounded by—and increasingly interacting with—media and technology. This meeting will provide a forum for intellectual interdisciplinary exchange on several aspects of media and technology in relation to children’s development. It is designed to appeal to a wide range of researchers, including those in media and communications, technology design and development, developmentalists, and others who seek to understand the role that technology and media do and can have in children’s lives.

Given its pervasiveness, more and more developmental scientists find it crucial to consider the role of media and technology in developmental processes. Likewise, as technology designed for and with children develops, technology and media researchers need to understand how developmental processes interface with the digital landscape. The rapid evolution of technologies and the increased access across socioeconomic status, minority groups, and developmental time periods raise both methodological and theoretical challenges to those researching child development and those researching and designing new technology. Moreover, a focus on media and technology in children’s development provides an opportunity for reflection on global and historical shifts in the contexts of development. This meeting will present an opportunity for scholars who study media, technology, and/or children to come together for meaningful exchanges and interactions.

Target audience:
  • Researchers who investigate children’s media and/or technology use
  • Child development researchers who seek to learn about and engage in dialog about studying technology and/or media
  • Designers and developers of media and/or technology for and with children
  • Researchers/practitioners who use technology and/or media as a tool for measurement or intervention
  • Individuals who work with youth using media and want to know about developmentally appropriate practice

The conference will be organized to facilitate interaction and collaboration among attendees. In addition to keynote presentations [Justine Cassell, Patricia Greenfield, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff], there will be workshops and panels that will focus on methodological concerns (e.g., data mining, logging software, working across disciplines) and funding opportunities. Creative breaks alongside demo and poster sessions will facilitate networking and intellectual exchange.

The meeting will be organized around four intersecting themes:
  1. Children as Producers and Consumers of Media and Technology
    • Review Panel Chair: Rebekah A. Richert, University of California - Riverside
  2. Media and Technology in the Service of Development
    • Review Panel Chair: Kaveri Subrahmanyam, California State University, Los Angeles
  3. Innovative Methods for Studying Children and Media
    • Review Panel Chair: Yalda T. Uhls, Common Sense Media
  4. Technology as a Tool for Developmental Interventions and for Studying Development
    • Review Panel Chair: Candice Odgers, Duke University

We invite submissions for symposia, poster presentations and demos within/across any of these themes. The interdisciplinary and international character of SRCD is strongly supported through its meetings. We welcome submissions from investigators around the globe in all disciplines related to the topic of technology and media in children’s development.

Early Career Attendance
The Society is committed to supporting the next generation of scholars and strongly encourages submissions from students, both graduate and undergraduate, and early career scholars. The conference is designed to support participation of early career scholars and will offer mentoring, professional networking, and reduced registration for all scholars within 5 years of their degree.

Submission Rules


Submission Deadline: Submissions will be accepted until April 6, 2016, 8:00pm EST. Authors will be notified of acceptance by the end of June 2016. Click [here] to submit.

Submission Themes:
All submissions must identify at least one of the four themes (Children as Producers and Consumers of Media, Media and Technology in Service of Development, Innovative Methods for Studying Children and Media, Technology as a Tool).

Submission Formats:
Submissions will be accepted in three formats and all will be peer-reviewed. Individuals may have a presenting role on a maximum of two presentations (regardless of type).

  1. Paper Symposium: A cohesive cluster of paper presentations. For cohesion, the symposium should focus on a specific topic and emphasize conceptual issues and the integration of findings. Scheduled for 1 hour and 40 minutes with 20-30 minutes reserved for discussion with audience participation. Three paper presentations are minimum and 4 paper presentations are maximum. Sessions with a discussant should be limited to 3 papers. Two chairs may be submitted in lieu of a discussant. Submissions should include a 100-word or less symposium integrative statement along with abstracts for each accompanying paper (max 400 words each).
  2. Poster Presentation: Posters are individual, free-standing research presentations to be displayed during a poster session; additionally, top poster submissions will be invited to present “flash-talks” before the poster session. Posters are the appropriate format when material can be explained briefly, is suited for graphic or visual presentation, and/or the presenter would benefit from high levels of interaction and discussion. A poster author must be present at the poster session to discuss the content. Poster abstracts should be no longer than 400 words.
  3. Demos: Demos showcase exciting emerging interactive technologies for children. If you have an interesting prototype, device, system, exhibit or installation, consider submitting a demo alongside your poster. Attendees can experience your work hands-on. Demo abstracts should be no longer than 400 words and clearly describe the distinguishing ideas of your project. Your submission should also include a description of the system, installation, or performance and the problem it addresses, as well as any resources required for the demo (e.g., WiFi, power strips, a table, an area of wall on which to project, etc.).

REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSIONS


  1. Sufficient empirical data must be included in your abstract to provide a basis for evaluation of your submission.
  2. Each submission undergoes a blinded review by at least two members of a review panel. No author or other identifying information may be included in your abstract or integrative statement.
  3. If two ratings of a submission differ considerably, the panel chair also will rate the submission.
  4. Submissions are reviewed according to the following criteria:
    1. Clarity of formulation/conceptualization
    2. Adequacy of methods
    3. Appropriateness of interpretations
    4. Importance of topic
    5. For multi-presenter formats, we also look for cohesion among presentations, relevance of presentations to the topic, and expression of different views.
    6. Inclusion of elements of the SRCD Strategic Plan is also an important consideration when we are choosing among submissions with equivalent scientific merit. These elements include multidisciplinary, international, and cultural/contextual research.

PREPARING AND UPLOADING SUBMISSIONS


Please note: Whatever you enter into the submission website is what will appear in the online program. Submissions may be revised, but NO changes can be made after the submission deadline of April 6, 2016. General information for entering data into the submission website:

  1. Any information entered will not be saved unless your submission is submitted. Please enter placeholders if necessary in order to complete a draft so that the submission is saved for editing at a later time.
  2. During the submission process you must choose one primary review panel. A secondary review panel is optional.
  3. Please enter a complete, formal name (e.g., Samuel T. Jones; H. Harrison Smith-Barton), current email address, and affiliation for each person. Please do not enter your author names in all upper-case letters or all lower-case letters. This requirement serves to uniquely identify a person included on your submission and ensures that they receive email communications regarding the decision status of the submission.
  4. Titles: Use mixed-case letters (upper-case for the first letter of all words with 4 or more letters and lower-case letters for the remainder of the words) and appropriate punctuation. Maximum number of characters for your title—letters, punctuation, and spacing—is 130.
  5. One person must enter all information for an entire symposium.
  6. Integrative statements, abstracts, and descriptions entered for submissions must be typed or copied and pasted into a text box on the submission website. NOTE: Your integrative statement and/or abstract should be in final form.
  7. File Uploads - all of your graphics must be incorporated into one single file. The file must be in Adobe PDF format. You will upload this document at the end of the submission process.
  8. 8. Group Authorship (e.g., consortia, projects, programs) may be entered in the “Group Authors” field of the submitting process. Do not enter individual authors in your submission in the Group Author field or they will not be seen in the program!

Submitting Instructions by Format:


PAPER SYMPOSIUM
# of Roles Allowed in each Symposium: 2 Chairs and 3-4 papers OR 1 Chair and 1 Discussant and 3 papers

Please keep in mind that:
Paper Symposia must be organized and submitted as a group of presentations with a chair.
Paper Symposia organizers are strongly encouraged to incorporate multiple disciplines, diversity, and international participation into their submissions. After the scientific review is completed, these factors may be considered in the decision process.


Role Descriptions
  1. Chair (one required): The Chair organizes the symposium and enters all information into the submission website. He/she also organizes and directs the symposium session, introduces the presenters during the oral portion of the session, and ensures that time limits are strictly observed. The Chair should be prepared to lead, stimulate, and coordinate the 30-minute open discussion with the audience. This is a presenting role and thus is protected against schedule conflicts. 2 chairs are permitted if there is no discussant.
  2. Discussant (optional): The discussant comments on the presentations included in the symposium, drawing on his/her own expertise; however, this person does not present his/her own research. This role is protected against schedule conflicts but does not count toward the maximum number of presenting roles allowed per person.
  3. Presenting Author (required): One person presents an individual presentation within the symposium. This presenting role is protected against schedule conflicts.
  4. Authors 2 - N (optional): There is no limit to the number of co-authors of presentations within the symposium. These roles are not protected against schedule conflicts and do not count against the maximum number of presenting roles allowed per person.

What You Will Need to Submit a Paper Symposium:
  1. A title for your submission with no more than 130 characters—including spaces and punctuation. Use mixed-case letters and appropriate punctuation in your title. Please do not put a period at the end of a title.
  2. One primary Review Panel and an optional secondary Review Panel
  3. Enter a full name, affiliation, and email address for the chair(s) and optional discussant. This information establishes a unique identity for each person, ensuring they receive a decision status notification for the submission. Please notify SRCD at programoffice@srcd.org if a chair/discussant has been entered with more than one email address so that duplicate accounts can be merged.
  4. Enter an integrative statement with a maximum of 100 words that summarizes the nature and significance of the proposed topic. Integrative statements will be viewable in the online program schedule. Your integrative statement must be typed or copied and pasted into the submission website; no file uploads are allowed.
    1. Single-space your integrative statement.
    2. Do not include the title in the integrative statement.
    3. Do not include names or other identifying information in your abstract.
  5. For each presentation within the symposium:

  6. Enter a title for your presentation with no more than 130 characters—including spaces and punctuation. Use mixed-case letters and appropriate punctuation in your title. Do not include a period at the end of your title.
  7. Enter a full name, affiliation, and current email address for each author of the presentation. This information establishes a unique identity for each person, ensuring that submitters receive a decision status notification for the submission. Identify the presenter of the submission. Please notify SRCD at programoffice@srcd.org if an author has been entered with more than one email address so that duplicate accounts can be merged.
  8. If you need to include a “group author” (consortium, program, etc.), enter it in the “Group Authors” field of the submitting process. Do not enter individual authors in your submission in the Group Author field or they will not be seen in the program!
  9. NOTE: Do not include research funding support anywhere in your submission! The appropriate place to acknowledge research funding support is in your presentation should the submission be accepted.

  10. Enter an abstract with a maximum of 400 words for each presentation that describes the material to be presented (introduction, hypotheses, study population, methods, results). Abstracts are for review purposes only. Your abstract must be typed or copied and pasted into the submission website; no file uploads are allowed.
    1. Single-space your abstract.
    2. Do not include the title in the abstract.
    3. Do not include names or other identifying information in your abstract.
    4. Use standard reference citations (last name, year), but do not include a reference list. If you believe a full reference is necessary, include it in the text as (authors, title, journal, year) and include it in your word count.
  11. Graphics are encouraged, but are optional; they do not count toward the maximum word count for your abstract. The two graphics allowed may be:
    • 2 tables, or
    • 2 figures, or
    • 1 tables plus 1 figure
  12. A SINGLE Adobe PDF document containing figures and/or tables for ALL of the presentations in your symposium will be uploaded. Create a document that clearly labels which presentation each figure/table is associated with, but DO NOT include any identifying information about authors. You will upload this document at the end of the submission process for a symposium.

POSTER PRESENTATION
Each poster occupies one 8’ wide x 4’ high poster board for the entire session. No electrical power will be available.

What You Will Need to Submit a Poster:
  1. A title for your submission with no more than 130 characters—including spaces and punctuation. Use mixed-case letters and appropriate punctuation in your title. Please do not put a period at the end of a title.
  2. One primary Review Panel and an optional secondary Review Panel
  3. Enter a full name, affiliation, and email address for each author of your poster. This information establishes a unique identity for each person, ensuring that submitters receive a decision status notification for the submission. Identify the presenter of the submission. Please notify SRCD at programoffice@srcd.org if an author has been entered with more than one email address so that duplicate accounts can be merged.
  4. If you need to include a “group author” (consortium, program, etc.), enter it in the “Group Authors” field of the submitting process. Do not enter individual authors in your submission in the Group Author field or they will not be seen in the program!
  5. NOTE: Do not include research funding support anywhere in your submission!The appropriate place to acknowledge research funding support is in your presentation should the submission be accepted.

  6. Enter an abstract with a maximum of 400 words. Your abstract must be typed or copied and pasted into the submission website; no file uploads are allowed.
    1. Single-space your abstract.
    2. Do not include the title in the abstract.
    3. Do not include names or other identifying information in your abstract.
    4. Use standard reference citations (last name, year), but do not include a reference list. If you believe a full reference is necessary, include it in the text as (authors, title, journal, year) and include it in your word count.
  7. Graphics are encouraged, but are optional; they do not count toward the maximum word count for your abstract. The two graphics allowed may be:
    • 2 tables, or
    • 2 figures, or
    • 1 tables plus 1 figure
    • File Uploads- all of your graphics must be incorporated into one single file. The file must be in Adobe PDF format. You will upload this document at the end of the submission process.

DEMO
Each poster occupies one 8’ wide x 4’ high poster board for the entire session.

What You Will Need to Submit a Demo:
  1. A title for your submission with no more than 130 characters—including spaces and punctuation. Use mixed-case letters and appropriate punctuation in your title. Please do not put a period at the end of a title.
  2. One primary Review Panel and an optional secondary Review Panel
  3. Enter a full name, affiliation, and email address for each author of your demo. This information establishes a unique identity for each person, ensuring that submitters receive a decision status notification for the submission. Identify the presenter of the demo. Please notify SRCD at programoffice@srcd.org if an author has been entered with more than one email address so that duplicate accounts can be merged.
  4. If you need to include a “group author” (consortium, program, etc.), enter it in the “Group Authors” field of the submitting process. Do not enter individual authors in your submission in the Group Author field or they will not be seen in the program!
  5. NOTE: Do not include research funding support anywhere in your submission! The appropriate place to acknowledge research funding support is in your presentation should the submission be accepted.

  6. Enter an abstract with a maximum of 400 words. Your abstract must be typed or copied and pasted into the submission website; no file uploads are allowed. Demo abstracts should clearly describe the distinguishing ideas of your project. Enter a description of the system, installation, or performance and the problem it addresses.
    1. Single-space your abstract
    2. Do not include the title in the abstract.
    3. Do not include names or other identifying information in your abstract.
    4. Use standard reference citations (last name, year), but do not include a reference list. If you believe a full reference is necessary, include it in the text as (authors, title, journal, year) and include it in your word count.
  7. Include a description of the system, installation, or performance and the problem it addresses, as well as any resources required for the demo (e.g., Wi-Fi, power strips, a table, an area of wall on which to project, etc.). Be sure to indicate a poster board is needed if applicable.
  8. Graphics are encouraged, but are optional; they do not count toward the maximum word count for your abstract. The two graphics allowed may be:
    • 2 tables, or
    • 2 figures, or
    • 1 tables plus 1 figure
    • File Uploads- all of your graphics must be incorporated into one single file. The file must be in Adobe PDF format. You will upload this document at the end of the submission process.

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