The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is committed to nurturing academically advanced K-12 learners worldwide. The beginnings of CTY can be traced back to a research question: How do academically talented young people learn best? In our quest to answer this and other questions, we’re engaging in exciting research that will enhance our understanding of how individuals learn.

CTY families can help by joining the Explorers Research Network.

Our research network is made up of CTY students who can, at their leisure, participate in a variety of online experiences—including spatial-skill-building exercises, brain teasers, and logic games. These activities are designed to help our researchers better understand cognitive abilities and motivations. As part of the ERN, students will have ongoing access to games, activities, and resources. In addition, we’ll share research updates with participating families as our work progresses.

Anyone who joins CTY is invited to join the ERN. Participation is voluntary. Students are given access to a portal where they can choose to complete active research study activities. They can participate as little or as much as they’d like. ERN members can opt out at any time.

We know our CTY families share our interest in furthering knowledge and discovery. That’s why we’re hopeful you’ll join CTY in this research effort. By clicking the button below, you will be taken to the parent/guardian permission website. There you’ll find the parent/guardian consent form, which is required for student participants, as well as more in-depth information about the Explorers Research Network.

Would you like to give your child permission to join the Explorers Research Network?

To give your child permission to join the Explorers Research Network, fill out the parent/guardian consent form:

Explorers Research Network consent form

If you are not ready at this time, you may enroll your child in the Explorers Research Network at any time by contacting us at [email protected].

If you or your child has any questions at all, please contact us at [email protected] and/or see the FAQs below. We look forward to working with our CTY families as we work to discover more about the science of learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child’s data be public?
No. Your child will be assigned a number so that only the CTY Research team will be able to identify them as a part of this study. Any reported data will be completely de-identified and presented in a summarized report.

Does my student have to participate?
No. Participation in the ERN is completely voluntary and will not affect your child’s eligibility or participation in other CTY programs. Joining the network does not require you or your child to participate in any specific studies, and they are free to skip any items or tests.

What types of activities will my child participate in?
Online games and experiments focus on spatial reasoning skills, complex problem-solving ability, critical thinking, and other cognitive aptitude. For example, activities might ask students to:

  • Unscramble letters to create a word
  • Listen to a set of information and recall it
  • Solve brain teasers
  • Surveys may include questions about the activities students like to do, what games they like to play, and/or their school experiences.

How much does it cost?
It does not cost anything to participate in CTY’s Explorers Research Network.

How was my child chosen to participate?
All CTY Talent Search participants are invited to join the ERN regardless of whether they have tested for CTY eligibility.

Will I get to see my child’s results?
We do not share individual results with anyone, including families.