General Information
1. What kind of research does the Eating Behavior and Child Development Center do?
The Eating Behavior and Child Development Center specializes in researching flavor and food preference development in children.
2. What are the goals of the research?
Our goals are the identification of strategies that increase children's liking and consumption of healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables.
3. Who is the director of the Eating Behavior and Child Development Center?
Dr. Catherine Forestell is the primary investigator for the Eating Behavior and Child Development Center. You may download a copy of Dr. Forestell's CV.
4. Who are the other Eating Behavior and Child Development Center members?
Graduate and undergraduate students from the College of William and Mary assist Dr. Forestell in the lab.
Participating in a Study
1. What does participating in a study involve?
Participation in a study involves 1-2 visits to the Center. On each visit, we will observe your child as he or she eats a commercially available food or beverage. We will ask you to keep a log of what your child eats and to answer some questionnaires about your own eating habits.
2. How long do appointments usually take?
Each visit to our Center will take approximately 60-90 minutes.
3. Are the studies safe?
All our studies are fun and safe. You will be free to ask us questions at any time. We will never force you or your child to participate in a study or part of a study that makes you uncomfortable.
4. I work. Is it possible to schedule an appointment for the weekend or after work?
We will be happy to schedule an after work appointment or a weekend visit to the Center.
5. I'm interested in participating in a study with my child. How do I make an appointment?
You may fill out our interest form or you may call the Center at (757) 221-3820. If you choose to fill out the interest form, someone will contact you shortly by phone to set up an appointment.
6. I'm interested in participating, but right now is not a good time. How long will you be running your studies?
We will be running studies continuously! If you cannot set up an appointment immediately, that is no problem. You may fill out our interest form or give us a call at (757) 221-3820 to let us know when you will be available in the future.
7. I'm interested in participating, but my child is not quite old enough. What should I do?
Go ahead and give us a call at (757) 221-3820. If your child will be entering the needed age range within a few months, then we can go ahead and set up an appointment for you. Otherwise, we can interview you for some basic information and call you back at a better time.
8. I have two children in the needed age range for one particular study. Would it be possible to set up two consecutive appointments?
It may be possible to set up appointments one right after another. Please give us a call at (757) 221-3820 to discuss this option.
Getting to the Center
1. Where is the Eating Behavior and Child Development Center located?
The Center is located in Bell Hall on the campus of the College of William and Mary. The center's address is 109 Cary Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
The Center is on the corner of Cary St. and Wythe Ln. across the street from the Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
Here is a Google map with our location indicated. You may also click on the picture of the Google map below to link to a more dynamic map.
2. How do I drive to the Eating Behavior and Child Development Center?
From Richmond and all points northwest:
- From I-64 E, take exit 238 for VA-143 toward Camp Peary/US-60/Colonial Williamsburg
- Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Jamestown/Williamsburg/Yorktown and merge onto VA-143 E (Merrimac Trail)
- Turn right at VA-132 (N. Henry St.)
- Turn right at VA-5 (Francis St.)
- Turn left at Jamestown Rd.
- Turn left at Cary St.
From Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach:
- From I-64 W, take exit 242 A to merge onto VA-199 W toward Busch Gardens/Jamestown/Williamsburg
- Turn right at Jamestown Rd.
- Turn right at Cary St.
Bell Hall (109 Cary St.) is the brick building on the left.
3. Where can I park?
By permit in the Williamsburg United Methodist Church parking lot across the street from Bell Hall. We will give you a hang tag for your car.
