We Love Durham NC

Duke Child Studies

Duke Psychology and Neuroscience has ongoing studies for children of all ages.

I signed the kids up for a Reading Study… really an eye-tracking study that would not involve any reading… and Wednesday hauled them out to Duke in the morning. They would each earn $10 for 10 to 45 minutes of research.

On arrival, we discover the lot they told us to park in is gated. There’s little to no free parking on the Duke Campus, so after trying to call and driving around a bit, we default into the Duke Clinic lots. We learn a lot about how elevators work.

Then we try to find the building. It isn’t marked. (Oh, yeah, my husband said later, Duke buildings aren’t marked.) And being a very small building, Duke Social/Psychology Building, nobody knows about it. We’re directed to the Info desk at the clinics and they give good directions, but it involves too many turns and I get us lost. A very kind administrator finally walks us over to the building (and gives the kids a cookie).

Forty-five minutes later, we’re in the departmental office, where the receptionist tries to call, with no answer. She does not know where the reading lab is. We walk (remember there are FIVE of us, like herding cats, man) around looking at door tags (well, we’ve come this far) and finally find the Reading Lab, but the door is locked and no one is around.

So we walk back to the car in the heat and the hungry, and I think-think-think how I can rescue the morning for the kids, who now don’t have their $10 each.

Ah, we’re near Hillsborough Road. Play area at Chik-Fil-A. That’s a treat for them. Do not underestimate the value of an enclosed play area with lemonade. With a glass window so you can sit in the air conditioning.

If you do the Duke Child Studies, and they do come highly recommended by lots of people, make sure they give you detailed directions, a parking pass, and a cell phone number for contact. And call the day before to confirm the appointment.

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