Applied research evaluation research

Applied Research: Transforming Insights into Action

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What is applied research?

Applied research refers to a non-systematic process of providing solutions to the specific problems or issues. These problems or issues can be on an individual level group or societal level as well. It is called ‘non-systematic’ due to its direct approach to finding the solutions. 

The process of applied research is often referred to as a scientific process because it uses the practical application of the available scientific tools to get to the determined solutions. 

Applied research evaluation research

Like normal research, in applied research too, the researcher identifies the problem, formulates the hypothesis, and perform experiments to test it. It further investigates the findings of a pure or basic research. 

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Types of applied research

There is total three types of applied research methods depending on their process of finding the solutions and they are:

  • Evaluation research – this is a type of applied research that works on the existing information about the research topic. It then analyses this information to come to new outcomes in the research. It is mostly seen used in the businesses, let’s say research to figure out the loopholes in the marketing strategies. 
  • Research and Developments – this method of applied research aims on producing new products and services depending to the latest market trends. Businesses use this approach to understand the new market trends and design their products according to the customers’ needs and expectations or make improvements in the existing ones. 
  • Action research – this method of applied research focuses on providing practical solutions to business problems. This is a process using reflective inquiry limited to specific contexts. 

Applied research in various sectors with examples

Applied research is used widely in various fields of study and research, right from science to social science fields. Further we discuss how it is used in those fields with some if its examples:

  • Applied research in Business 

Applied research in business sectors is totally dependent on the products and services that they make. Applied research helps such businesses to identify market needs and trends, and then mold their products to best suit the customers. 

Applied research gives an upper-hand for the businesses as they are able to identify the gaps in their findings and also get the primary information on the target market preferences. 

Example: 

    • Applied research can help businesses improve their hiring process. 
    • Applied research makes workplace efficient and policies. 
    • Applied research helps point out skill gaps in the workplace. 
  • Applied research in Education 

Educational fields use applied research to test the teaching processes and better methods towards teaching and learning. Before introducing any new education policies, they are tested for their effectiveness with regards to teaching factors and classroom dynamics and then are implied into action. 

Educational applied research combines both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods from primary sources. This data is then analyzed and interpreted using various methods to derive sensible results or conclusions. 

Applied research in this field is mostly devoted to formulating and testing the various approaches by experimenting with them under certain situations. It is based on empirical findings through accurate observations and descriptions. 

Example:

    • Applied research to understand the scope of online learning initiatives. 
    • Applied research to improve teacher to student classroom engagement.
    • Applied research to test the new mathematics program.
  • Applied research in science 

As said earlier, applied research is often referred to as a scientific process because it uses the practical application of the available scientific tools to get to the determined solutions.

It is useful in various fields of physics, microbiology, thermodynamics, etc. 

Example: 

    • Applied research to find a cure to a disease. 
    • Applied research to improve agricultural solutions.
    • Applied research to test new lab equipment. 
  • Applied research in psychology

Researchers use applied research in psychology to determine workplace behaviours, HR and development within the organization to draw solutions. 

It is widely used in areas where the thinking process of individuals is experimented with by the researcher and then the solutions are drawn to best suit their behaviour. 

Example:

    • Applied research to regulate a motivated work strategy to make the employees attend regularly. 
    • Applied research to determine the new ways of dealing with depression.
    • Applied research to improve students’ grades by focusing on practical education. 
  • Applied research in health

In the medical field, applied research is mostly used as an evidence-based and solution-oriented method to test new medicines. 

It works by merging scientific knowledge and methods with health experiences to arrive at evidential and verifiable results. 

Example: 

    • Applied research to determine the healing property of a specific medicine. 
    • Applied research to specify the side effects of a certain medicine. 
    • Applied research on a new way of performing heart surgery. 

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Methods of applied research

Applied research makes use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection to analyze and draw verifiable conclusions. 

Some of the methods of collecting data for applied research are as follows:

  • Interviews – this is a method where the data is collected on a one-on-one basis. An interviewer asks questions to the subjects related to the research topics. It can be conducted through online channels, through a video call, audio recorder, etc. despite being time-consuming, it stands as the most reliable source of information for the research study.
  • Surveys/Questionnaires – this method involves questions related to the research topic where the respondents are expected to record their responses that best suits their opinions. These questions can be close-ended (provides quantitative data) and open-ended questions (provides qualitative data). 
  • Data reporting – it is gathering information for a research topic that can be a potential source of data for future researches. It can be published in a newspaper, magazine or a report. 
  • Observation – this method includes observing the subjects in their environment to get to know their behaviours and thoughts. Though this can be influenced by the researcher’s biases. 
  • Focus groups – this includes gathering data from a group of people about a certain issue. The researcher gathers a sample of individuals who have faced the issue and ask them open-ended questions.

Advantages of applied research

  • It is bias-free as it tests empirical evidence to arrive at valid outcomes. 
  • It has a systematic process to arrive at solutions.
  • It is highly helpful when you have to find solutions to specific problems. 

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Disadvantages of applied research

  • It is not flexible in nature is restricted to deadlines. 
  • As it focuses on finding solutions to specific problems, its results cannot be generalized. 

Applied research vs Basic research

Applied research evaluation research
Applied research evaluation research

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