Ongoing Research Studies

Smooth Sailing I

Under the direction of Dr. Jan Blacher, Professor in the Graduate School of Education, the SEARCH center is currently analyzing data from nearly 200 children diagnosed with Autism or ASD between the ages of 4-7 years old. The goal of the study is to identify factors that contribute to positive school experiences in early schooling for children on the spectrum.

One of the key factors identified was a positive student-teacher relationship.  This is especially important for those young children with ASD in general education classes (that is, mainstreamed for 50% or more of the day.)
FUNDING SOURCE: Institute of Education Sciences (R324A110086)

Smooth Sailing II

The goal of this follow-up study to Smooth Sailing I is to develop an intervention to improve student-teacher relationships. What is unique to this program is the involvement of teachers as consultants who advise on the content, direction, usability and feasibility of the program. Teachers also are involved in pilot testing the intervention.
FUNDING SOURCE: Institute of Education Sciences (R324A180105)

For more information about Smooth Sailing (I and II), please visit: https://smoothsailingstudy.org/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmoothSailingStudy/

View Sample Publications

Collaborative Family Study (CFS)

The Collaborative Family Study (CFS) is a longitudinal study (funded by NICHD) between UCR and UCLA which consists of over 200 families. The current follow-up study is led by Drs. Jan Blacher at  UCR and Bruce L. Baker at UCLA.  The  research focus is on the mental health and well-being of young adults and parents during this transition time. The participants are young adults with autism, intellectual disability, or typical development, between the ages of 21 - 24 years. A portion of these young adults and their parents have been involved in this longitudinal study since it began in 1998-99.
FUNDING SOURCE: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD034879); University of California, Riverside

View Sample Publications

The Parent Experiences of Remote Learning (PERL) Study

COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented disruption to K-12 education. To prevent the spread of coronavirus, in-person instruction was suddenly replaced with remote learning, or the education of children at home. Yet, the existing research on COVID-19 has overlooked the role of distance learning in contributing to health outcomes and disparities. The PERL Study seeks to understand family adaptation as a function of family stressors, resources, and perceptions of remote learning with a highly diverse sample of parents of school-aged children in the Inland Empire. Findings from this research will contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which disparities emerge, with the goal of elucidating pathways to family resilience.

FUNDING SOURCE: Center for Health Disparities Research (HDR@UCR) (https://healthdisparities.ucr.edu) NIMHD award U54 MD013368. Sub-Award: J. Blacher, PI; Y. Bolourian, R. Lee, co-PIs.

Data collection concluded in 2022, and analysis is ongoing (2026).

EEG

Under the direction of Dr. Katherine Meltzoff, Associate Professor in the School of Education, The Social Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience (SCDN) Lab aims to conduct studies that explore how brain activity is related to behavior in children with and without ASD, as well as how anxiety contributes to social challenges in ASD. Website: https://sites.google.com/view/scdnlab/home

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCRSCDNLab

View Sample Publications

The Neurodivergent Adult: Ramifications of Assessment and Diagnosis

Increasing self-knowledge is an important part of emerging adulthood, and some young adults suspect that autism may be an explanation for their social or personal difficulties for the first time in college. Obtaining an assessment and/or diagnosis could facilitate accommodations and better access to their educational programs. 

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate an autism assessment and diagnostic protocol for young adults that can be administered by a campus assessment or research center without parental input. In addition to the interviews, surveys, and measures that are part of the autism assessment, we also ask participants to comment on the assessment process itself. 

Please download our flyer below! You can email searchcenter@ucr.edu if you are interested in participating: eligibility criteria include age between 18-29 and being a full time undergrad or grad student.