Applied research is the type of research that is used to answer questions that have direct implications and applications in the world. This type of research solves the existing problems in the world. This is unlike basic research.
Applied research is a systematic form of inquiry that involves practical applications of sciences. Applied research accesses and utilizes some part of the research communities’ theories, methods, knowledge and techniques for a specific purpose. Applied research is compared to pure research in discussion. Applied research solve practical problems and uses empirical methodologies.
Since applied research is used in solving the issues of the real-world, the research protocol should have to be relaxed. For example, in applied research, it is not possible to use a random sample. Therefore, it is essential to have transparency in the methodology. The implications for the understanding of results which are brought by relaxing strict methods should be considered.
Applied research is one of the three types of research. The other two are basic research and experimental development. Applied research is found in the literature, which is associated with individual streams. This is because of its practical focus.
Applied research is a non-symptomatic inquiry, and is used by the company to solve a specific problem. Unlike fundamental research that is related to creating new knowledge or expanding the current knowledge, applied research is concerned with solving a particular problem. Also, in applied research, the research objectives are set by sponsors or clients. On the other hand, fundamental studies have self-initiated goals. Applied research is concerned with external validity.
Applied research is the application of science practically. Because applied research is a temporary problem and data orientation, it uses a provisional conceptual framework like pillar questions or working hypothesis.
Applied research is different than the other methods. Applied research quantifies the application of knowledge which is the learned in basic research to solve practical problems. Applied research uses applied experimentation which is the execution of the controlled test to determine the performance of the system.
It is useful for the context to compare all the experiments to the other solution options. These experiments may include the usage of validation tests or benchmarks to investigate the performance of systems.
Working of Applied research
Applied research initiates by identifying the problem which exists in society. The applied researchers then conduct a thorough study to identify a possible solution. The type of research and study which they utilize will depend on various factors, including the unique characteristics of the said problem and the nature of the problem.
Researchers may use observation technique to see if the problem occurs in real-time so that they can get the first-hand data. Research bias if any is tried to minimize. Then they conduct experiments to recreate the problem and apply different solutions to see which works the best. Multiple solutions may be used since they may not get the correct answer in the first go.
Most of the practical problems which are encountered by people are the target for applied research. Basic research, on the other hand, deals with other issues, applied research addresses these practical issues. There are no limitations or inhibitions in basic research but applied research has a lot of restraints comparatively.
In basic research, for example, a research objective may be to identify different species of a particular animal, and applied research will consider the relation of those species with each other, it will also work on its practical uses and applications. If an industry is sponsoring the applied research, then the possible methods of that research that could be used in that industry are tried to determine.
Basic research uses tools and instruments, constructs a hypothesis, and follows all the steps that typical research may use. Applied research, on the other hand, works only on one objective.
Basic research might find a variation of a polymer or plastic. The variety of plastic is practically useless if its applications are not found. Applied research has the objective to find its uses in industries, for example, as a different type of packaging container for industrial as well as custom product packaging.
Applied research has constraints on it compared to basic research because these researches are usually sponsored, and the sponsorer would not want the researcher to waste time as well as resources searching for something which they would not be using. Basic research is comparatively difficult to conduct since the study is aimless. Basic research is like roaming in a jungle without a GPS, and applied research is traveling in a car with GPS.
It is assumed that the driver knows where he is going, and his job is to find the best possible way to the destination. Since applied research is more lucrative than basic research, companies are willing to spend more on it than basic research. But, what many of the companies fail to understand is the product or raw material that will be used for applied research would be found out because of the basic research.
This is why both types of research have their importance. Applied research needs the output of basic research to proceed, and basic research requires applied research to find the practical usage and applications of the findings of the basic research.
Here is a video by Marketing91 on Applied Research.
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