The Durham Child Health & Development Study

Between August 2002 and January 2004, over 200 hundred families from all walks of life enrolled in the DCHD Study as they adjusted to the birth of a new child.

These families share their thoughts and experiences about parenthood and family life with us every six months until their child is three years old. They help deepen our understanding of how families today meet the demands of their lives and raise healthy children.

Their continuing participation contributes to our knowledge about child social, emotional, and cognitive development from infancy though age three.

Benefits for families

In previous studies, families have found these experiences very interesting and rewarding.

Families received compensation of about $200 each year for their participation, for a total of $650 for the whole study. Families also receive additional gifts and gift certificates.

Families receive payment for travel costs or taxi fare for visits to our playroom in Durham.

Families have the satisfaction of knowing they are providing information that will improve knowledge about and services for families with young children.

Martha J. Cox, PhD is Director of this study, and Director of the Center for Developmental Science. She has studied families for over 25 years and is the author of many books and articles. Her work has been cited in publications such as Newsweek, Time, Parent Magazine, The New York Times and Durham's Herald-Sun.