Research

Dr. Edwards' primary research interest includes achievement motivation, particularly examining the precursors and consequences of motivation within online and traditional learning settings. For example, one of her areas of research within that context, is the influence of  sociocultural factors, including social class, on motivation. She also applies her work in motivation within the reading domain, exploring reading motivation and identity. Her secondary line of inquiry involves testing motivational theories in laboratory settings. Dr. Edwards is also interested in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Specifically, she investigates motivational patterns and processes in authentic classrooms. She has used her research to help educators identify ways to boost motivation and promote academic success among college students.

Dr. Edwards has presented her research at regional, national, and international conferences and published her work in Instructional Science, Journal of Learning Sciences, Contemporary Educational Psychology, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, Teaching of Psychology, Frontiers in Education, The Internet and Higher Education, and British Journal of Educational Psychology.