The UKLA/ Wiley Research in Literacy Education Award is a prestigious prize bestowed on the best article in the Journal of Research in Reading (JRR) and Literacy in the previous year. Both are peer-reviewed journals with international reputations for excellence. The award is given to a text which fulfils many of the following criteria:
- Relevance to readership – taking account of an international readership
- Accessibility to a knowledgeable readership
- Original content which contributes significantly to existing knowledge or the development of new knowledge, policy or strategy
- Clear theoretical position
- Methodologically sound research processes /design appropriate to the theoretical standpoint
- Sound level of critical analysis
- Relevant and appropriate citation base

The prize was awarded to Nouwens, S., Groen, M. A., Kleemans, T. and Verhoeven, L. (2018). The role of semantic retrieval in children's reading comprehension development in the upper primary grades. Journal of Research in Reading, 41(3), 597-614. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9817.12128.