Challenges in Designing Human-Animal Interaction Research
Abstract
This article addresses challenges in designing Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) research. A summary of previous reviews of HAI research is presented, followed by a discussion of areas that present particular challenges to research in this field, specifically design issues, control of extraneous variables, sample selection, intervention development, and outcome measurement. Suggestions for addressing these areas also are presented.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There are additional logistical, financial and training requirements for both the humans and animals in AAI.
“There are also additional logistical, financial and training requirements for both the humans and animals in AAI, prompting calls for greater reporting of constraints such as external limitations in AAI research [63].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [63]
Cites
Stockton, R. A., & Kerlinger, F. N. (1974) · American Educational Research Journal · doi:10.2307/1162206 · Cited by 7,356 · see citing works
Clinical Epidemiology: A Basic Science for Clinical Medicine.
(1991) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-114-9-825_9 · Cited by 3,497 · see citing works
Hulley, S. B. (1997) · Cited by 1,753 · see citing works
Strategy of outcome research in psychotherapy.
Paul, G. L. (1967) · Journal of Consulting Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0024436 · Cited by 1,043 · see citing works
Handbook on animal-assisted therapy. Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice
Fine, A. H. (2010) · Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) · doi:10.5167/uzh-46614 · Cited by 762 · see citing works
Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit.
(1980) · PubMed Central · Cited by 694 · see citing works
Statistics; probability, inference, and decision
Hays, W. L., & Winkler, R. L. (1975) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 548 · see citing works
Presence of human friends and pet dogs as moderators of autonomic responses to stress in women.
Allen, K., Blascovich, J., Tomaka, J., & Kelsey, R. M. (1991) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.61.4.582 · Cited by 511 · see citing works
Presence of Human Friends and Pet Dogs as Moderators of Autonomic Responses to Stress in Women
Allen, K. M., Blascovich, J., Tomaka, J., & Kelsey, R. M. (1991) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.4.582 · Cited by 511 · see citing works
Beneficial Effects of Pet Ownership on Some Aspects of Human Health and Behaviour
Serpell, J. A. (1991) · Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine · doi:10.1177/014107689108401208 · Cited by 494 · see citing works
Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. A. (1995) · The American Journal of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/s0002-9149(99)80343-9 · Cited by 489 · see citing works
Siegel, J. M. (1990) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.58.6.1081 · Cited by 483 · see citing works
Siegel, J. M. (1990) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.6.1081 · Cited by 483 · see citing works
Pet ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Anderson, W. P., Reid, C. M., & Jennings, G. (1992) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137178.x · Cited by 449 · see citing works
Integrative Medicine and Systemic Outcomes Research
Bell, I. R., Caspi, O., Schwartz, G. E., Grant, K. L., Gaudet, T., Rychener, D. L., Maizes, V. H., & Weil, A. (2002) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.162.2.133 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Companion Animals in Human Health
Wilson, C. C., & Turner, D. C. (1998) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452232959 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Self-citationLoneliness and Pet Ownership among Single Women
Zasloff, R. L., & Kidd, A. H. (1994) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1994.75.2.747 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
A new look at pet-facilitated therapy
Beck, A. M., & Katcher, A. H. (1984) · Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · doi:10.2460/javma.1984.184.04.414 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Pet Ownership May Be a Factor in Improved Health of the Elderly
Dembicki, D., & Anderson, J. E. (1996) · Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly · doi:10.1300/j052v15n03_02 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
The Role of Pet Dogs in Casual Conversations of Elderly Adults
Rogers, J., Hart, L. A., & Boltz, R. P. (1993) · The Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/00224545.1993.9712145 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Fritz, C. L., Farver, T. B., Kass, P. H., & Hart, L. A. (1995) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-199507000-00006 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Friedmann, E. (2006) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012369484-3/50005-0 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Why Alternative Medicine Cannot Be Evidence-based
Tonelli, M. R., & Callahan, T. C. (2001) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00001888-200112000-00011 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Benefits and Liabilities of Pets for the Homeless
Kidd, A. H., & Kidd, R. M. (1994) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1994.74.3.715 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Pet Ownership and Attachment in Relation to the Health of U.S. Adults, 21 to 64 Years of Age
Stallones, L. F., Marx, M. B., Garrity, T. F., & Johnson, T. P. (1990) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279391787057206 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Effects of Pet Contact on Human Well-Being: Review of Recent Research
Gorrity, T. F., & Stallones, L. (1998) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452232959.n1 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Effects of Watching Aquariums on Elders' Stress
DeSchriver, M. M., & Riddick, C. C. (1990) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279391787057396 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Perception of Animals and Cardiovascular Responses During Verbalization With an Animal Present
Friedmann, E., Locker, B. Z., & Lockwood, R. (1993) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279393787002303 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Pet Ownership in Relation to Depression, Anxiety, and Anger in Working Women
Watson, N. L., & Weinstein, M. (1993) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279393787002295 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Psychological Health in a Population of Australian Cat Owners
Straede, C. M., & Gates, R. G. (1993) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279393787002385 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
ELDERLY-ANIMAL FRIENDSHIP BONDS
Peretti, P. O. (1990) · Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal · doi:10.2224/sbp.1990.18.1.151 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
The role of companion animals for persons with AIDS/HIV
Carmack, B. J. (1991) · Holistic Nursing Practice · doi:10.1097/00004650-199101000-00007 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Locke, D., Myers, J. E., & Herr, E. L. (2001) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452229218 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Health Benefits of Pets for Families
Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. A. (1985) · Marriage & Family Review · doi:10.1300/j002v08n03_14 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
A Critical Review of Research on the Human/Companion Animal Relationship: 1988 To 1993
Barba, B. E. (1995) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279395787156509 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Sussman, M. B. (2016) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315784656 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
The Human/Animal Bond as a Correlate of Family Functioning
Cox, R. P. (1993) · Clinical Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/105477389300200210 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Mallon, G. P., Ross, S. B., & Ross, L. (2006) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012369484-3/50009-8 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Miller, D., Staats, S. R., & Partlo, C. (1992) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/bf00303855 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
A Conceptual Framework for Human-Animal Interaction Research: The Challenge Revisited
Wilson, C. C. (1994) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279394787002032 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationManaging change in an interdisciplinary inpatient unit: An action research approach
Barker, S. B., & Barker, R. T. (1994) · The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research · doi:10.1007/bf02521348 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationPlaying with pets and longevity among older people.
Tucker, J. S., Friedman, H. S., Tsai, C. M., et al. (1995) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.10.1.3 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Psychological Needs Filled by Avian Companions
Loughlin, C. A., & Dowrick, P. W. (1993) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279393787002204 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Companion animals and the elderly: A state-of-the-art summary
Wilson, C. C., & Netting, F. E. (1983) · Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · doi:10.2460/javma.1983.183.12.1425 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationPlaying with pets and longevity among older people.
Tucker, J. S., Friedman, H. S., Tsai, C. M., et al. (1995) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037//0882-7974.10.1.3 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Evidence-Based Counseling Intervention Programs: Practicing “Best Practices”
Sexton, T. L. (2001) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452229218.n29 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Constraints in Assessing the Impact of Animals in Education
Barker, S. B., Best, A. M., Fredrickson, M., et al. (2000) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279300786999905 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationPets as Adjunct Therapists in a Residence For Former Psychiatric Patients
Nielsen, J. A., & Delude, L. A. (1994) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/089279394787001907 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Pet Ownership and Prophylaxis of Headache and Chronic Pain
Hirsch, A. R., & Whitman, B. W. (1994) · Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain · doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1994.hed3409542.x · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Love of Animals and Interpersonal Affectionate Behavior
St-Yves, A., Freeston, M. H., Jacques, C. J., et al. (1990) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1990.67.3f.1067 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The therapeutic functions of companion animals in infertility
Blenner, J. L. (1991) · Holistic Nursing Practice · doi:10.1097/00004650-199101000-00004 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Pets and Perceived Family Life Quality
Loyer-Carlson, V. L. (1992) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1992.70.3.947 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Pets and human health The influence of pets on cardiovascular and other aspects of owners' health
Rajack, L. S. (1997) · OpenGrey (Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique) · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Synergy and Symbiosis in Animal-Assisted Therapy
Arkow, P. (2006) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012369484-3/50022-0 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Epistemological and Methodological Issues in Counseling
Szymanski, E. M., & Parker, R. M. (2001) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781452229218.n26 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Jones, M. G., Rice, S. M., & Cotton, S. M. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210761 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
“There are also additional logistical, financial and training requirements for both the humans and animals in AAI, prompting calls for greater reporting of constraints such as external limitations in AAI research [63].”
BackgroundAnimal-Assisted Therapy in the Treatment of Substance Dependence
Wesley, M. C., Minatrea, N. B., & Watson, J. C. (2009) · Anthrozoös · doi:10.2752/175303709x434167 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Signal, T., Taylor, N., Prentice, K., McDade, M., & Burke, K. J. (2017) · Applied Developmental Science · doi:10.1080/10888691.2016.1165098 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wilson, C. C., & Barker, S. B.
- Affiliations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- ORCID
- Barker, Sandra B.
- Venue
- American Behavioral Scientist
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 16-28
- ISSN
- 0002-7642 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3381
- OpenAlex
- W2019188893
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Behavioral Scientist (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Keywords
- human-animal interaction, research design, sample selection, intervention development, outcome measurement, companion animals
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
