Comprehensive Assessment and Score Development: The NIH Infant and Toddler Toolbox

Session Type: Coordinated Paper Session

Abstract

The NIH Infant and Toddler (“Baby”) Toolbox (NBT) is a groundbreaking measurement tool designed for children aged 1 through 42 months. The NBT leverages the capabilities of an iPad, incorporating built-in eye-tracking technology and brief video clips, to facilitate precise, objective assessments of children's developmental functioning. The administration of the NBT, along with data collection and scoring, is a central focus of this symposium. One key aspect of the NBT is its use of passive-viewing gaze measures, which are particularly suitable for children under 24 months of age. An administrator sets up a task on the iPad, which monitors where the child is looking as they view test stimuli on the screen. Crucially, the iPad's front-facing camera captures the child's gaze, allowing for a non-verbal expression of their comprehension and responses. Additionally, the development of normative data for these innovative assessments will be discussed, shedding light on how this tool can be used effectively to assess and understand the cognitive development of infants and toddlers. In sum, the NBT represents a cutting-edge approach to early childhood assessment, offering new insights into the developmental processes of our youngest learners.

Sub Unit

• Individual Papers, Innovation Demonstrations, Coordinated Sessions, or Organized Discussions

Session Organizer

• Lihua Yao, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Chair

• Daniel Lewis, Creative Measurement Solutions LLC

Individual Presentations

• An overview of the NIH Baby Toolbox: Introduction, validation, scoring, and norming - Richard Gershon, Northwestern University; Aaron Kaat, Northwestern university; Sarah Pila, Northwestern University; Rachel Hanrahan, Northwestern University; Paula Sievert, Northwestern University; Maria Diaz, Northwestern University; Cindy Nowinski, Northwestern University

• Scoring Rule Development for Gaze Captured Data - Lihua Yao, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY; Aaron Kaat, Northwestern university; Maxwell Mansolf, Northwestern University; Richard Gershon, Northwestern University; Rachel Hanrahan, Northwestern University

• Models for Social Functioning/Behavior Assessment - Maxwell Mansolf, Northwestern University; Lihua Yao, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY; Hugh Adam, Northwestern University; Aaron Kaat, Northwestern university

• Validation of the Baby Toolbox - Miriam Novack, Northwestern University; Elizabeth Dworak, Northwestern University; Catherine Han, Northwestern University

• Norm Development of the Baby Toolbox - Catherine Han, Northwestern University; Aaron Kaat, Northwestern university; Lihua Yao, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY; Elizabeth Dworak, Northwestern University

Discussant

• Richard Patz, UC BERKELEY