Eye Tracking

What is Eye Tracking?

Eye tracking involves using a special camera that can capture up to 1000 times per second where your child is looking on a screen and how large their pupils are while completing a task. Such a task can be, for example, reading texts or solving math or estimation problems. Our research teams are often not only interested in whether children can solve a task, but also in how they arrive at a solution. Analyzing how long and how often your child looks at specific areas of a task (e.g., individual numbers in a math problem) helps us understand their approach to solving that task. Changes in pupil size can indicate how much effort your child is exerting or if they are surprised by certain results.

What happens during the study?

To allow for optimal concentration and performance, the study takes place in a distraction-free environment. The eye-tracking camera is typically positioned below a screen on which the tasks are displayed. The room is darkened to prevent, for example, changes in pupil size due to fluctuations in external light. To ensure precise measurements, your child will rest their chin on a padded support during eye tracking.

What to keep in mind when participating?

• If your child requires vision aids, please check with the researchers in advance to ensure that the eye-tracking measurement can be successfully conducted. 
• Mascara, eyeliner, or other eye makeup can significantly interfere with the eye-tracking measurement and should be avoided on the day of the study. 
• Any factors that may affect your child’s participation (e.g., fatigue or stress) should be communicated to the researchers.