Jeffrey S . Kaplan The Research Connection Dissertations on Adolescent Literature : 2000 – 2005

No research column would be complete or responsive to the needs of young adult teachers, researchers and enthusi­ asts without a review of the wealth of recent dissertations involving the study of young adult literature. Thus, the theme of this column is to bring to readers of The ALAN Review an informative summary of significant masters and doctoral dissertations completed in the last five years (2000-05) “of” and “about” young adult literature. The dissertations of young adult literature concern papers that study the use of young adult novels in a classroom setting. These researchers examine the practice of using young adult literature as a pedagogical tool and its effect on the perceptions, attitudes, and understandings of adolescent readers. The dissertations about young adult literature comprise research that analyzes young adult fiction as a literary genre. These literary scholars devote considerable time and effort to revealing the charac­ teristics of plot, structure and style in the works of young adult fiction and its implications for both adolescent and adult readers. As no summary of all the works cited can be totally complete, apologies to those who disserta­ tions are not represented or to those whose study is misrepre­ sented. The intent of this columnist is to cull the archives for the thesis listed in dissertation abstracts within the last five years and to produce a representative summary of the good work accomplished. My hope is that young adult teachers and readers everywhere will benefit from the plethora of interesting and provocative research being accom­ plished in the name of young adult literature and in turn, these rich studies might spur investigations of your own. Enjoy.