Dr Jordy Kaufman Technology for Tots Interview

Dr Jordy Kaufman Technology for Tots Interview

Researchers are investigating whether touchscreen use by young children is beneficial for their development.

The researchers, from Swinburne University of Technology, have received a Google Faculty Research Award to study whether the use of touchscreen devices is more like toy play or television in its effect on learning.

"Touchscreen apps for tots are growing in popularity, but whether these activities are good or bad for a child's development is yet to be determined," said lead researcher Dr Jordy Kaufman, founder and Director of the Swinburne BabyLab, Australia's first research centre for infant cognitive neuroscience.

"There is a popular view that TV is bad for kids and therefore tablet devices are also bad, but there has been no published research to date in this area," Dr Kaufman said.

"Right now parents are getting conflicting stories. On the one hand, there are thousands of touchscreen games which claim to aid with children's educational and mental development.

"Meanwhile, some experts warn that any screen time at all can be damaging to young children.

"Parents are understandably conflicted as to whether they should allow their children to use tablet computers and if so how often, for what duration and for what type of activities."

The researchers will study children aged between four and six, duplicating a real-world hands-on activity with a virtual activity on a tablet computer.

The Google Research Awards support cutting-edge research in areas of mutual interest. Each proposal is assessed on its impact, innovation and relevance to Google and its customers.

The Swinburne project is the only Australian-based research project to be funded in the current round.

Interview with Dr Jordy Kaufman

Question: What inspired you to begin research on the use of touchscreen devices by young children?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: No one really knows how touchscreen device use affects young children. Filling this gap in knowledge is a lot of untested hypotheses and unsubstantiated claims. For example, often parents are warned to limit or restrict use but these guidelines are based almost entirely on research about kids and television. It's not clear if touchscreen use would have similar effects. Meanwhile, there are a growing number of apps available that claim to have educational or developmental benefits but these claims are also largely untested. I think it's important to learn more about the effects so that decisions can be made on real findings rather than guesswork and marketing.


Question: What results do you expect to come from this study?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: I expect that we will find both benefits of and potential problems with touchscreen use by young children. What we find will likely depend on the actual activity children engage in.


Question: What type of research are you conducting?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: We are looking at how touchscreen use affects children's learning, memory, attention and social interactions. In some cases we look to see if there are any short-term effects after a period of touchscreen use. We are also assessing if children can use knowledge they gain on the device in the real world.


Question: How long do you estimate the study will take?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: The first set of studies should take a few months, but we have followup studies planned for the next year or longer.


Question: Currently do you have any results on the impact of touchscreen applications on a child's development?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: It's really too early to say right now.


Question: How does a touchscreen differ to the TV?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: TV viewing is an entirely passive activity. Touchscreen devices have the ability to be very interactive. Depending on how it is used it can also have a social element as well.


Question: How can Australian parents keep up to date with the research?

Dr Jordy Kaufman: They can visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/the.swinburne.babylab. When we are ready to present our findings, we will announce it there.

If parents are in the Melbourne area and want to participate in our research with their children they can register at www.babylab.org


Interview by Brooke Hunter