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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05807061

Reducing Children's Racial Biases Via a Parent-Led Intervention

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a parent-led program for reducing children's racial biases in White families. The main question it aims to answer is: With training, can parents effectively address their children's racial biases? Parent will receive training and tools for addressing their children's racial biases. Researchers will study effects on both parents' and children's racial biases.

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Key information

Conditions

Racial Bias Behavior Prejudice Racism Social Behavior Social Discrimination

Age range

5 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Waisman Center at UW-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • The child is 5.00 to 7.99 years of age
  • The child participant and their parent are both non-Hispanic White

Exclusion criteria

are:

  • Non-proficiency in English on the part of the parent or the child
  • The parent is <18 years old
  • The child or parent identifies with another racial/ethnic identity in addition to White

Treatment and study plan

EmBARK

Behavioral

The narrated training teaches parents about children's biases and introduces multiple strategies for addressing children's biases. Families receive children's books to help practice the strategies.

Popular guidance

Behavioral

The popular press articles teach parents about children's biases and guide parents about how to talk to children about race. Families receive children's books focused on race to help practice talking about race.

Practice first

Behavioral

Animal books are provided to parents to help them practice talking to their children when reading books. Then, families receive a training program about race as well as children's books about race.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Likelihood of Child's Racial Bias

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores from 1-5. Higher scores mean higher likelihood of bias.

  2. Change in Concern about Children's Racial Bias

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores from 1-10. Higher scores indicate more concern.

  3. Change in Concern about Own Child's Bias

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores from 1-10. Higher scores indicate more concern.

  4. Change in Motivation to Regulate Children's Bias

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores from 1-10. Higher scores mean greater motivation.

  5. Change in Self-Efficacy for Addressing Children's Bias

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores from 1-7. Higher scores mean greater self-efficacy.

  6. Change in Intergroup Liking

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores is -12 to +12. Higher scores reflect more ingroup liking.

  7. Change in Diversity Preference

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores is 0 to 4. Higher scores mean a greater preference for homogeneous groups.

  8. Change in Reactions to Discrimination: Evaluation

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores is -6 to +6.

  9. Change in Reactions to Discrimination: Confrontation

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Participants can score 0 or 1, with the higher score reflecting confrontation.

  10. Change in Predicting Parents' Attitudes

    Time frame: Post-Test 1 (up to 4 weeks on study), Post-Test 2 (up to 16 weeks on study)

    Total possible range of scores is -6 to +6.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Collaborators

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 10, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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