Faculty

Dr. Karen H. LarwinProfessor

“I am a professor with extensive training and experience in quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis, and I am dedicated to supporting student success and advancing community initiatives.”

Degrees Held:

• Master of Public Health – Youngstown State University, 2021
• Ph.D. in Evaluation, Measurement, and Applied Statistics – Kent State University, 2007
• MA in Evaluation and Measurement – Kent State University, 2005
• BS, Psychology, 2023

Career Highlights:

As an accomplished researcher and evaluator, Dr. Larwin has authored and co-authored hundreds of program evaluations and peer-reviewed publications across education, public health, and the social sciences. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for historically underrepresented and underserved populations, including individuals affected by poverty, disability, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and involvement with social services or the judicial system. Central to this work is her belief that effective leadership is essential to driving sustainable, positive change within these systems.

Trained in both qualitative and quantitative methods, Dr. Larwin specializes in demystifying research design. She is known for translating complex concepts into practical, manageable steps, helping students build confidence in applying a range of methodologies to real-world challenges. As an expert in quantitative analysis, she has developed advanced statistical techniques and is widely recognized for her contributions to research involving both large and small sample studies. Her current methodological work focuses on enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of qualitative and mixed-method approaches. She is also the originator of two theoretical frameworks: Subtractive Leadership and The Trauma of Poverty.

Recent Publications

K. Larwin, S. Horne, A. Budnik "Better birth outcomes: The investment that saves lives" (2024) Environment and Public Health Research, Academic Publishing Pte. Ltd, volume 2, issue 2, p. 1927

K. Larwin, S. Horne "The cost of doing nothing: Preventable premature births for at-risk women" (2024) Applied Psychology Research, Academic Publishing Pte. Ltd, volume 3, issue 1, p. 1278

K. Larwin, C. Jackson, S. Harper Woods, P. Spearman "Perceptions of Poverty across Three Disciplines at One Urban University" (2024) Journal of Poverty, Informa UK Limited, volume 28, issue 1, p. 47-57

K. Fallo, K. Larwin "The Implementation of Restorative Justice Practices: What Does Six Years of Data Reveal About the Changes in the Reported Discipline Rates for African American Students?" (2024) Journal of Education, SAGE Publications, volume 204, issue 1, p. 58-70

K. Larwin, D. Larwin "Maternal and Infant Pathways HUB in NE Ohio: Influence on Birth Outcomes" (2024) Maternal and Child Health Journal, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, volume 28, issue 1, p. 83-92

Zito, K. Larwin "The Sound of Silence: The Educator’s Perspective on Silence during Staff Meetings." (2024) Journal of Organizational and Educational Leadership, volume 9(2), https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/joel/9/iss...

K. Larwin, A. Budnik, S. Horne "Ohio community pathway HUB: The cost benefit of supporting minority mothers" (2023) Journal of Contemporary Research in Social Sciences, Learning Gate, volume 5, issue 2, p. 27-37

D. Thomas, K. Larwin "A meta-analytic investigation of the impact of middle school STEM education: where are all the students of color?" (2023) International Journal of STEM Education, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, volume 10, issue 1

K. Larwin, J. Gorman "When the right answer isn’t enough." (2023)

M. Simko, K. Larwin "Perspectives of Respiratory therapists on Trust in healthcare Leadership Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2023) Respiratory Care, volume 68(10). https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/68/Suppl_10/39493...

K. Meader, K. Larwin "Exploring the Perceptions of Male Teachers About the Shortage of Male Elementary School Teachers: A Q Methodology" (2022) Journal of Education, SAGE Publications, volume 202, issue 4, p. 416-435

D. Chine, K. Larwin "Using HLM to Determine a STEM Program's Impact on Middle School Academic Achievement" (2022)International Journal of Research in Education and Science, ISTES Organization, volume 8, issue 1, p. 1-17

D. Chine, K. Larwin "The Impact of STEM Integration on Student Achievement Using HLM: A Case Study" (2022) Journal of Research in STEM Education, volume 8(1), 1-23, https://doi.org/10.51355/jstem.2022.108

K. Fallo, K. Larwin "The impact of restorative justice practices on reducing the discipline gap for African American students." (2022) Journal of Education, volume 1-13. doi.org/10.1177/00220574221090286

J. Kalis, K. Larwin "Do Bullying Interventions Work? The Educators’ Perspective" (2022) Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership, volume 8: Iss. 1, Article 3

J. Glavan, K. Larwin, C. Aspiranti "At risk and silent: Giving voice to students participating in an alternative school-in-school program" (2022) Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning, volume 16(32), 31-57

K. Aspiranti, K. Larwin "Investigating the Effects of Tablet-Based Math Interventions: A Meta-Analysis" (2021) International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, ISTES Organization, volume 5, issue 4, p. 629-647

K. Larwin, C. Jackson, S. Woods, P. Spearman "Perceptions of Poverty Across Three Disciplines at One Urban University" (2022) Journal of Poverty, volume 26, p. 1-11

E. Smith, K. Larwin "Will they be welcomed in? The impact of K-12 teachers’ and principals’ perceptions of inclusion of students with disabilities" (2021) Journal of Organizational and Educational Leadership, volume 6(3), 1-34

C. Tarr, K. Larwin, R. Hershey "Measuring the effects of physical exercise on stereotypic behaviors in autism: Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling." (2021) Journal of Autism, volume 8(1), 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.7243/2054-992X-8-1

K. Hughley, K. Larwin "Is There a Disproportionate Representation of African American Males in Special Education? A Causal-Comparative Investigation," (2021) Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership, volume 7 : Iss. 1 , Article 3

C. Reash, K. Larwin "Factors of Motivation in Education: Perspectives of College Students and Their Professors" (2021) Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership, volume 7 : Iss. 1 , Article 2

K. Aspiranti, K. Larwin "A meta-analysis of the use of iPads and tablets for math intervention delivery." (2021) International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, volume 8(1), 1-8.

S. Miller, K. Larwin, M. Kautzman-East, J. Williams, W. Evans, D. Williams, A. Abramski, K. Miller "A Proposed Definition and Structure of Counselor Dispositions" (2020) Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, Informa UK Limited, volume 53, issue 2, p. 117-130

K. Aspiranti, K. Larwin, B. Schade "iPads/tablets and students with autism: A meta-analysis of academic effects" (2020) Assistive Technology, Informa UK Limited, volume 32, issue 1, p. 23-30

D. Reppy, K. Larwin "The Association Between Perception of Caring and Intrinsic Motivation: A Study of Urban Middle School Students" (2020) Journal of Education, SAGE Publications, volume 200, issue 1, p. 48-61

In which online degree program do you teach?

• Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program

• Which classes do you teach online?

  • FOUN 8104 – Research Strategies in Educational Administration
  • FOUN 8111 – Advanced Research Design and Statistics
  • FOUN 8112 – Qualitative Inquiry