Basic Vs. Applied Research

The Purpose of Research: Basic vs. Applied

Basic research is sometimes referred to as theoretical, academic, or scholarly research. It is most often conducted in college or university settings by professors and/ or graduate students. Much of the funding for this kend of research comes from government agencies, foundations, or the schools themselves either directly through grants to cover their costs or indirectly by providing salaries and work space. Because its methods, data, and findings are generally public, basic research contributes immeasurably to the advancement of knowledge.

The goal of basic research is to create, test, and improve theory. However, it would be a mistake to think that all, or perhaps even most, social scientists devote their research time to the creation and testing of theory. Some do research simply to document ‘how things are,’ secure in the knowledge that what seems obvious today will be less obvious in 10, 20, or 100 years.

The goal of Applied Research to provide solutions to real-world problems. Theory building and testing is not its goal, but findings from; purely applied research often provides the raw stuff from which researchers can develop theories. Although pragmatic concerns are rarely the driving force behing basic research, basic research has practical applications. Much applied research is ‘theory using.” Applied researchers often design their studies to incorporate questions, hypotheses, or measurement derived from more theoretical work. They also turn to theory to help them explain their findings and make them more meaningful by fitting them into a larger body of work.

Therefore, applied research is neither totally atheoretical nor bereft of value to the basic researcher. Basic research is not simply an exercise in ‘ivory tower’ theorizing bereft or real-world benefits. The two kinds of research complement each other, working together to enhance understanding.