Graduate Student Research
A collection of Graduate Student Research by students in the College of Education.
Theses/Dissertations from 2025
Facilitating Student Engagement in Elementary Science Classrooms with Reformed Teaching Principles, Nathaniel Bryant Open Access Dissertation
The Impact of Structural Gamification on Student Motivation and Engagement in a Middle School Language Arts Classroom, Natalie Campbell Open Access Dissertation
An Examination of Middle School Girls’ Perceptions and Preferences of Reading from a Device Versus Paper, Debra Kisch Open Access Dissertation
What are Teacher Beliefs and Perceptions About Teaching Children to Read Within a One-Way Spanish Immersion School?, Kathleen Konrardy Open Access Dissertation
Socioeconomic Status and Educational Opportunities Through the Eyes of Students and Teachers: Diverse Realities, Shared Insights, Jill Schany Open Access Dissertation
Submissions from 2024
Student Reading Motivation through Book Talks, Amy Abbott, Stephanie Stockton, Luvy Webb, and Jessica Werderman Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
A Case Study of the Impact of Lateral Reading Instruction On Students’ Evaluation of Digital Information, Devon Allbee, Jenny Marburger, and Tiffany Ostrowski Open Access Graduate Research Paper
A Proposal for an Analysis of the Depiction of Prosocial Behaviors in High Quality Early Elementary Picture Books, Teresa Bettin Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
The Impact of Book Self-Selection and Format on Student Motivation to Read, Josie Bishop, Mattie Carstens, and Molly Mitola Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Gamification and Engagement in a 3rd Grade Classroom, Ellen Braet Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Boxes With Curves: The Necessity for School Leaders to Empower and Engage Through Culturally Competent Lenses, Priscilla Culp Open Access Dissertation
Examining the Impact Book Promotions Have on Student Book Selection, Chelsea Dearborn Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Teacher Librarians’ Influence on Information Literacy Skills: A Research Proposal, Amy Diewold, Diana Lord, and Sierra Johnson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Body Image in College Athletics, Tyrell Gordon Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Quality Inclusive Classrooms and Integrating the Project Approach with Children with Special Needs, Marie Elizabeth Helmrich Open Access Graduate Research Paper
A Process Evaluation of a Program Designed to Expand Access to the Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), Justine R. Hoover Open Access Dissertation
Developing and Delivering New-Hire Training Curriculum, Lacey A. Montgomery Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
The Effects of Sleep Quality on the Performance and Health of Athletes, Andy Niese Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Increasing Reading Fluency in ELL learners, Jennifer N. Patton Open Access Graduate Research Paper
A Case Study of the Influence of the Teacher Librarian On Middle and High School Student Book Selection, Hilary Peyton, Lindsay Salinas, Josie Smock, and Meg Tisinger Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Implications of Educational Environments for Gender and Sexually Diverse Adolescents, Margaret J. Staff Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Representation of LGBTQ+ Characters In the 2019 to 2022 Iowa Teen Award Books, Jamie Thompson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The Impact of Gamification on the Motivation of Students in the Classroom Setting, Jack Woodard Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Submissions from 2023
Diversity in Collections Utilizing Accelerated Reader Programs, Leah Cahill Open Access Graduate Research Paper
No Need to Set the Alarm, I’ve Been Up Since 2:30am! Why My Teaching Job Keeps Me Up at Night: A Phenomenological Research Study on Empathic Strain of Iowa Educators, Lindsey Cornwell Open Access Dissertation
Communicating Emotions Through Art and Conversation, Paige E. Kayvan, Samantha R. Doyle, Payton Cannon, and Traci Jolley Open Access Graduate Research Paper 2024 Award
Promoting Social-Emotional Development in Elementary Children Through the Use of Quality Picture Books: A Content Analysis, Shauna Mostek Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Does systematic phonological awareness in the early primary grades impact student learning beyond primary grades, Renee Lyn Sorenson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Theses/Dissertations from 2022
Using Internet reciprocal teaching to develop second graders' online text evaluation skills, Annika Buell Open Access Thesis
Building an understanding of the Common Core state standards and complex texts, while supporting upper elementary readers with complex text through shared reading, Joanna Mae Carlson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Relationship between decoding and writing with early readers: An action research study, Nicole M. Henningsen Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Vocabulary strategies in elementary science - A self-study, Katherine Hooey Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Educational experiences of first generation Black African students with and without dis/abilities, Shehreen Iqtadar Open Access Dissertation
Partnership to grow effective readers: professional learning for interventionists and classroom teachers, Jennifer Lane Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The writing identity of a Hip Hop lyricist and educator: An autoethnography, Lamont Muhammad Open Access Dissertation
Teacher librarian influence on students' self-selection of books, Elizabeth A. Nelson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of Native Americans and Native culture in children's picture books, Janace Nester Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Investigating the environment needed to shift instructional practice towards a learner-centered classroom in rural Iowa, Kelli Olson Dissertation (UNI Access Only)
Unstacking the matryoshka nesting doll: A self-study of playful language instruction for adult second language learners, Marine Pepanyan Open Access Dissertation
Lexile levels and their value to public school teachers, Kristin Schumacher Open Access Thesis
Pleasure reading workshop: Meeting SEL competencies based on sustained (and maybe not so silent) reading, Lora Sink Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The influence of book talks on reader engagement in fourth grade students, Jennifer Smith Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Students vs. suspects: A qualitative examination of stereotype threat and the impact on behavior of Black males, Ryan J. Williamson Open Access Dissertation
A case study of the impact a pleasure reading curriculum has on students' passion for reading, Danielle M. Wolfe Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Hey! That's how I feel! A qualitative content analysis of anxiety in middle grade literature, Heather M. Wood Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Submissions from 2021
Mental illness representation in young adult literature, Ashley Aberle Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of characters with autism in picture books, Tara Amundson Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Teaching race through multicultural children's literature, Kaley Bailey and Maiya Duthoo-Wolpert Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Examining diversity in the Iowa Goldfinch Award, Jill M. Doyle Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The influence of book club conversations on reluctant or struggling readers, JaDee Jo Gloede Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Examining teacher librarians' impact on students' self-selection strategies, Sarah Gunsolley Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
The portrayal of fathers in children's literature, Kate A. Hite Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Inspiring students to take action in order to make positive change through the integration of social studies themes in children's literature, Morgan Ives, Taylor Marsho, Ashtyn Riley, and Deidra Rudd Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Diverse representation within secondary-level state consortium-provided e-books, Jill McDonald Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
A case study of the impact of teacher librarian collaboration in the instruction of information literacy and digital citizenship on student achievement in inquiry skills, Abby M. Mussmann Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Identifying ways to support preservice teachers to engage in inquiry work through Project Approach: A self-study, Allison K. Pattee Dissertation (UNI Access Only)
The historical and cultural accuracy of the Japanese internment camps in children's literature, Zoey Perrigo Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Portrayal of females in notable science trade books for children, Carolyn Proesch Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Examining the impact a teacher librarian has on students' self-selection strategies, Stefanie Throndson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Exploring the experiences of one team of teachers: Well-being and navigating the demands of the education profession, Abby Weiland Open Access Dissertation 2023 Award
Submissions from 2020
Representation of Native peoples in picture books about Christopher Columbus: A literary analysis, Mari Butler Abry Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Elementary school library program integration with art, literacy, and STEAM through makerspaces, Kristi Baldwin Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of characters with physical disabilities in picture books, Emily Biederman Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Using mentor texts to enhance the teaching of reading comprehension and writing, Alexandra Jordyn Cushman Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of Diverse Family Structures in Children's Literature, Beth Grafft Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The impact of the use of mobile computing on vocabulary learning in the language classroom, Lorena Harger Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Characterizing protagonists in graphic novels for teens, Danielle Lahr Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of immigration in fiction for grades 4-6, Melissa N. Marwedel Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Three cases of makerspace integration in school library programs in conjunction with district initiatives: Literacy, design thinking, and STEAM, Sara Pflughaupt Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Influence of book clubs on reading motivation for third through fifth grade students, Allyson Reister Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Trauma in children's literature, Kyra Ross Open Access Graduate Research Paper
An analysis of ADHD in middle grade and young adult literature, Sydney Schuler Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Representation of LGBTQ characters in 2019 young adult literature, Janelle M. Snyder Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Gazing at scattered stars: Immigration through the lens of elementary graphic literature, Jennifer K. Stanerson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Technology based grammar instruction, Erin Mary Summerhays Open Access Thesis
Three cases of makerspace integration in school library programs in conjunction with district initiatives: STEAM, design thinking, and literacy, Lisa Tegels Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Culture in transitional chapter books: Assimilation or inclusion, Jeanette P. White Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Theses/Dissertations from 2019
Perception of preservice teachers on the implementation of multicultural education, Winnie Esther Akinyi Open Access Thesis
Early childhood professional learning facilitators: A self-study within a new delivery model, Allison Jane Barness Dissertation (UNI Access Only)
An investigation of pre-service teacher and faculty knowledge on RTI, Nichole M. Beckman Open Access Thesis
Teacher perceptions of understaffed school libraries, Amanda Bonjour Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Pre-service teacher knowledge and attitudes about the trans body in the classroom: Implications for teacher education, Kyrie Dora Borsay Dissertation (Electronic Copy Not Available)
The effect of gamification on student motivation, David A. Brahn Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
The effects of gamification on student engagement and motivation, Sara Butcher Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
Seeing the forest for the trees: Elementary STEM environments that nurture creativity and innovation, Lisa Jo Chizek Open Access Dissertation
Computer science is elementary: Comprehensive plan for computer science implementation at the elementary level, Erin Chute Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Using critical literacy and emotionally responsive teaching to discuss racism in a literature circle unit, Autumn Rose Den Boer Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Student engagement within the use of graphic novels, Melissa Felsenthal Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Understanding ESL undergraduate students' beliefs about learner-centered instruction, Mahjabeen Hussain Open Access Dissertation 2020 Award
Best practices in assessment and evaluation of literacy at the secondary level, Meaghan Kathleen Johnson Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Student-teacher relationships: How to find a common ground in relationship building, Jason Knittel Dissertation (UNI Access Only)
Writing workshop and creativity despite standardization: An exploration of elementary teachers' practices, Darcie Kay Kress Open Access Dissertation
Is there a correlation between oral reading rate and social conversational speaking rate?, Sarah C. Mason Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Portrayal of females in agriculturally themed children's books, Malinda Mick Graduate Research Paper (UNI Access Only)
The effects of a makerspace curriculum on the 4C's in education, Staci Novak Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The effects of text-to-speech on students with reading disabilities, Melissa Oberembt Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Trainers' perspectives of teacher professional development, Harun Parpucu Open Access Dissertation
Investigation of the changes of preservice teachers' efficacy beliefs in teaching students with special needs, Pujaningsih Pujaningsih Open Access Dissertation
The Representation of Controversial Materials in Middle School Library Collections in Iowa, Danielle Ramsey Open Access Graduate Research Paper
The effect of digital game-based learning on student learning: A literature review, Katrina Serrano Open Access Graduate Research Paper
