Professor Ozawa writes widely on policy analysis of social welfare programs and social issues related to older adults, women, and children.

Her current research focuses on volatility in American families, inequality and child well-being, child allowances as an alternative policy, anti-poverty effects of public income transfers on children, the Medicaid matching formula and the distribution of Medicaid funds, and the federal role in establishing income security for children and service use by elderly persons.

She is also investigating declining economic fortunes of children, income and wealth of elderly persons, money's worth in social security benefits, and net worth holding of the rich and poor. Professor Ozawa research connects with her teaching courses in social policy analysis and evaluation and social policy research.

She is the founder and director of the School’s Martha N. Ozawa Center for Social Policy Studies. The Center’s mission is to assist Asian governments and communities to make policy decisions based on informed opinions.

The Society for Social Work and Research has recently recognized her research and professional leadership with its prestigious 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award by the Society for Social Work and Research.