Overlap Between Basic and Applied Research

Applied Research Example: Cell Phone Use

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of applied research?

A psychologist is evaluating the effectiveness of a new peer-mentoring program specifically designed to reduce incidents of bullying in middle schools. This study is an example of applied research.

A team of psychologists wants to conduct applied research to solve practical issues. Match each real-world problem with the specific applied research study designed to resolve it.

Analyze the following research scenarios related to stress and mental health. Arrange them in order of their focus on the defining goals of applied research, starting with the scenario most centered on general understanding and ending with the one most centered on resolving a specific, practical problem.

A community mental health clinic is experiencing a high rate of 'no-show' appointments. You are tasked with 'designing' an applied research study to resolve this practical problem. Which of the following research plans best constructs an actionable intervention by applying scientific methods to this real-world issue?

Applied research is conducted primarily to build general theoretical understanding and expand basic knowledge, rather than to address specific, practical problems.

Match each term with the description that best represents its role in scientific psychological research.

A researcher is criticized for a study on a specific school's anti-bullying program because it focuses only on one community's needs. The researcher defends the study by arguing that its value should be judged by its success in resolving a specific, practical problem rather than its contribution to general theoretical understanding. This justification characterizes the project as _____.

A psychologist reviews two research proposals. Proposal A investigates general cognitive mechanisms underlying human memory formation. Proposal B evaluates the effectiveness of a smartphone reminder app at reducing missed medication doses among elderly patients in a local clinic. After breaking down the defining characteristics of each study, the psychologist classifies Proposal B as applied research because, unlike Proposal A, its primary aim is to _____ a specific, practical problem.

A research methods instructor asks students to evaluate whether a proposed study—testing a stress-reduction workshop designed to lower burnout among emergency room nurses at a specific hospital—qualifies as applied research. Arrange the following evaluative steps in the most logical and defensible order, from first to last.

Define applied research and explain its primary purpose. In your definition, contrast it with basic research by identifying what each type of research focuses on, and provide an example of a real-world issue that applied research might address.

Explain why this driving simulator study is classified as applied research rather than basic research. In your explanation, identify the specific, practical problem the researchers are trying to address and describe the type of outcome they hope to achieve based on the context.

Imagine you are a researcher studying pedestrian safety at busy intersections. Propose a specific research question that represents an applied research approach to this issue, and explain how the outcome of your proposed study would lead to an actionable solution.