Action Research and Its Importance

Dr Priya Mankara Vijayan gave an in-house presentation to the staff of the English Language center on Action Research and Its Importance on 19.4.2021 as part of an initiative taken by the Professional Development Committee at the UTAS-Ibri. The presentation was moderated by Dr Michelle I Mendoza.

Dr Priya Mankara Vijayan has a doctorate in English Language and Literature. She also holds a TESOL certificate from Trinity College, London and a post-graduate certificate in teaching English from English and Foreign Languages University, India. She has 18 years of teaching experience at college and university levels. Her research areas include ELT and Literature. Currently, she is an ELT lecturer at the ELC, UTAS, Ibri. 

Action Research is one of the practical Research approaches and is gaining popularity in social sciences. A succinct definition of action is a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking action.  The prime objective of this presentation is to highlight the key role of action research in the education sector and ELT. It also brings to the limelight the different stages of action research and its cyclic nature. Moreover, it highlights the role of Action research in initiating actions to improve upon and bring about changes in the existing professional practices and real issues related to our field of study.

Practitioners who engage in action research indeed find it to be an empowering experience. Action research is impressively positive for many reasons. The most imperative is that action research is always pertinent to the participants. Relevance is specific because the focus of each research project is determined by the researchers, who will be the first to analyze the findings.

Perhaps even more important is the fact that action research facilitates educators to be more effective at what they care most about—their teaching and the improvement of their students.  When teachers have substantial evidence that their work has indeed contributed to the lives of their students, the endless efforts exerted seem worthwhile.

The head of the center, Dr Abdulsalam Manthari appreciated the commitment of the PDC and lauded the uniqueness of the topic presented at the webinar.