February 9, 2009

Researchers looking for study participants

WANT TO GET PAID TO GET IN SHAPE?

Non-exercising men and women (18-35 years old) are needed for a research study on the effects of vitamin D in
fitness training. Participants train free of charge for 12 weeks at Purdue facilities and are paid for completing the study. Primary investigator is Dorothy Teegarden.  Call 494-3185 or e-mail aecarril@purdue.edu for more information. 

Stuttering project looking for subjects

Anne Smith and Christine Weber-Fox in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences are currently seeking 4- and 5-year-old children for a longitudinal study of children who stutter.

Previous research suggests that when children are stuttering at age 4, about half of the children recover while the other half persist in their stuttering.  Smith and Weber-Fox are trying to identify the characteristics that may lead to persistence and recovery.  Their focus is on the physiological aspects of stuttering, including speech motor control and how the brain processes auditory information.

To participate in this study, children must be native speakers of English, have hearing within the normal range, display stuttered speech, and have no cognitive or neurological difficulties. 

Children who participate will receive a free assessment of their speech, language, and hearing abilities, and families of eligible children will receive $100 per year for participating in testing sessions. Families who live more than 60 miles from Purdue will be paid $200 per year.

For more information, contact Barbara Brown, project coordinator, at (765) 496-6403, toll-free at (866) 360-0051 or brownb@purdue.edu.

Participants with learning disability or visual impairment needed for education study 

Emily Bouck, assistant professor in the College of Education, is conducting a research study to investigate a newly developed computer-based accessible calculator.

Undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue with either a recognized learning disability or visual impairment (i.e., blind or low vision) are sought.

Participants will complete mathematics assessments and a brief interview. Participants will be compensated with a $50 gift certificate for participation in 3 to 5 sessions lasting less than a half-hour each.

Those interested in participating or wanting additional information should contact Emily Bouck at bouck@purdue.edu or (765) 494-7332.

Focus group participants needed for research on requesting prescriptions from physicians

Have you ever asked your physician for a prescription for a specific drug? How did your physician respond? Have you ever wanted to ask your physician for a prescription for a specific drug, but felt uncomfortable? What made you feel that way?

Carin Kosmoski, a health communication doctoral student in the Department of Communication at Purdue, is working on her dissertation project titled Breaking the Ice: A Conversation Starter Tool for Use in Discussions between Patient and Physician about Direct-to-Consumer Advertised Prescriptions. Kosmoski wants to hear about the experiences you have had making prescription requests from your physician. Please come to a one-hour focus group discussion to share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences regarding making prescription requests.

You must be 18 years or older to participate in this research. Light refreshments will be provided during the focus group and you will receive $15 cash upon completion.

Focus groups for female participants will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Wednesday, Feb. 11, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

Focus groups for male participants will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 18, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

Principal Investigator is Marifran Mattson, Purdue University. Please contact Carin Kosmoski at ckosmosk@purdue.edu for more information and to schedule participation.