Research at The Craig School
Research at The Craig School exists to support students, inform practice, and strengthen the program over time.
This page provides an overview of the research projects that are currently underway, as well as an archive of past work that has shaped how learning and support are delivered today.
All research activity is connected to the school’s Science of Learning Lab (SOL) and is designed to inform real classroom practice rather than exist in isolation.
PRESENTATIONS
THE CRAIG SCHOOL
Ideas, Perceptions, and Attitudes about Dogs in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Pulse, M, Zeiler, C, Monterio, E, Stelhi, A, Carlisle, G, Schuck, S. (December 2025). Ideas, Perceptions, and Attitudes about Dogs in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Utilizing a novel questionnaire designed specifically for children and adolescents. Paper in review. Journal of Adolescence; Invited special issue on developmental science and human-animal interactions.
Observation of human-animal interaction for research (OHAIRE) behavior coding in a randomized control trial of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a canine-assisted intervention
Nieforth, L.O., Guerin, N.A., Stehli, A., Schuck, S.E.B., Yi, K., O’Haire, M.E. (2024) Observation of human-animal interaction for research (OHAIRE) behavior coding in a randomized control trial of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a canine-assisted intervention. Frontiers in Psychiatry, Psychological Therapy and Psychosomatics (15).
Co-Designing Situated Displays for Family Co-Regulation with ADHD Children
*Silva, L.M., Cibrian, F.L., Bonang, C., Bhattacharay, A., Min, A., *Monteiro, E.M., Beltran, J.A., Schuck, S.E.B,, Lakes, K.D., Hayes, G.R., & Epstein, D.A. (2024) Co-Designing Situated Displays for Family Co-Regulation with ADHD Children. Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp.1-19)
Digital Health Intervention for Children With ADHD
*Herrera, N., Cibrian, F. L., *Silva, L. M., Beltran, J. A., Schuck, S. E., Hayes, G. R., & Lakes, K. D. (2024). Digital health intervention for children with ADHD to improve mental health intervention, patient experiences, and outcomes: a study protocol. BMC Digital Health, 2(1), 78.
Acute salivary cortisol response in children with ADHD during psychosocial intervention with and without therapy dogs
Schuck, S. E., *Zeiler, C. N., Stehli, A., *Steinhoff, L. A., *Stokes, R. Y., *Jeffrey, S. E., & Granger, D. A. (2024). Acute salivary cortisol response in children with ADHD during psychosocial intervention with and without therapy dogs. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1476522.
ParentCoach: designing an mHealth parenting app to enhance parental involvement in ADHD support
Cibrian, F.L., Herrera, N., Beltran, J.A., Silva, L.M., *Pulse, M., Anderson, K., *Zeiler, C*, Rieffel, L., Arnold, V.X., Lee, D., Schuck, S.E.B, & Lakes, K.D. 2025). ParentCoach: Designing an mHealth Parenting App to Enhance Parental Involvement in ADHD Support. Frontiers in Computer Science, ##, #######.
Ideas, Perceptions, and Attitudes about Dogs in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Pulse, M, Zeiler, C, Monterio, E, Stelhi, A, Carlisle, G, Schuck, S. (December 2025). Ideas, Perceptions, and Attitudes about Dogs in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Utilizing a novel questionnaire designed specifically for children and adolescents. Paper in review. Journal of Adolescence; Invited special issue on developmental science and human-animal interactions.
University and Research Partnerships
Research at The Craig School has been supported through long-standing relationships with the academic community.
Graduate-level researchers and interns from institutions such as the University of California, Irvine and other regional universities have contributed to data collection, analysis, and project development under faculty supervision.
These partnerships strengthen the rigor of the work while keeping it grounded in real classrooms.
A Living Research Hub
Research is not separate from daily school life. It is part of how the program grows and improves.
A dedicated research hub supports multiple projects each year that inform classroom practices, behavioral supports, and student progress. Staff meet regularly to review data, discuss targeted behaviors, and adjust supports when needed.
This ongoing process ensures that learning and support remain responsive rather than static.
Publications and Media
Work connected to the program has been featured in professional presentations, academic discussions, and national media focused on education and behavioral health.
Notably, the school’s research-informed approach was featured in The Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid, highlighting its long-term commitment to thoughtful, evidence-based education.
How Research Is Used
Research at The Craig School is not conducted for publication alone.
Findings are used to:
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Refine classroom practices
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Improve behavioral and academic supports
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Guide staff training and collaboration
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Ensure the program evolves responsibly over time
Research informs decisions, but students remain the priority.
Connection to the Science of Learning Lab
This research work is coordinated through the school’s Science of Learning Lab (SOL), which integrates research, data, and reflection into daily school life.
Families interested in understanding how research actively shapes instruction and support can learn more about SOL and its role within the school.
Questions about Research?
Families, researchers, or partners who would like more information about current or past research are welcome to reach out.
The goal of this work is simple: to better understand what helps students learn, grow, and thrive over time.