Research opportunity: Share your experiences with hibernated toys and earn a $10 gift card

From: Industrial Design, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Computer Science

Researchers are seeking participants for a research study exploring why some toys remain in households hibernated (not played with for over a year) while still being in good condition and suitable for sharing or reuse. Researchers want to understand why these toys stay in hibernation and how we can help families give them a second life while benefiting the environment.

Researchers are looking for parents whose youngest child is between 12 and 18 years old to take part in this study. Participants will receive a $10 Amazon gift card upon completing the survey, which takes approximately 30 minutes. The survey includes questions about your hibernated toys, their stories, and any challenges you’ve faced in sharing or donating them.

To participate, simply click this link to complete the survey. For your convenience, we have also attached a flyer with both a link and a QR code that will take you to the survey.

This research has been approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB # 24-814). If you have any questions or concerns about participating in the study, please feel free to contact us at moonhy@vt.edu or toysphere.vt@gmail.com.