Research

Areas of Research Interests

  • Classroom based Action Research
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Teaching of the Second National Language
  • Bilingualism
  • Content and Language Integrated Learning
  • Teacher Education
  • National Achievement levels

Current Research

  • Collaborating with Dr David Hayes who received an SSHRC grant in 2011 for the project “The role of school language education in the development of respect among ethnic communities in Sri Lanka and its impact on the development of the foundations for social harmony in the country”.

Research

Personal Research

  1. Coping with student heterogeneity in the English Language Classrooms – A collaborative Action Research –National Education Commission 2009
  2. Motivation as a contributing factor in second language learning: A case study of a disadvantaged school setting. (2003) Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo in partial fulfilment of the Master of Science in Applied Psychology
  3. Role of classroom interaction in second language learning in Sri Lanka. (2002) Unpublished: Dissertation submitted to the University of Wollongong in fulfilment of the requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy of Education.
  4. How effective is the distance mode in teaching English to teacher trainees?(1995) Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Master of Philosophy in Education

 

Joint research

  1. Early dropout of girls from schools in the Free Trade Zone areas and their awareness and conformity to new laws in the MarriageRegistration Act [A study conducted in the Gampaha District]. (2002). Sponsored by the National Committee on Women; Colombo – Sri Lanka.
  2. Research Team Member – Assessment of Minimum Learning Competencies (MLC) for effective school learning.: A national level assessment administered at completion of the primary cycle. A collaborative research project conducted by NIE and NEREC, University of Colombo.(2004)
  3. Research Team Member – National assessment of achievement of grade four pupils in Sri Lanka (2003) NEREC: Faculty of Education, University of Colombo.
  4. Research Team Leader – Survey of status of second national language teaching and learning in Colleges of Education. 2006 (Funded by the GTZ Project)
  5. Resource person – Baseline survey of impact evaluation of School Based Management. (Funded by the World Bank)