Key Difference – Pure vs Applied Research
Research is often classified into different categories such qualitative and quantitative, and pure and applied. While qualitative and quantitative classification is based on the type of data and methods used, pure and applied classification is based on the goal of the research. Thus, the key difference between pure and applied research depends on their goal; pure research is conducted without a specific goal in mind whereas applied research conducted with the aim of solving a problem.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pure Research
3. What is Applied Research
4. Side by Side Comparison – Pure vs Applied Research
5. Summary
What is Pure Research?
Pure research, also known as fundamental or basic research, is conducted without any specific goal in mind. The main aim of pure research is to advance knowledge and to identify or explain the relationship between variables. Thus, it advances fundamental knowledge about the world, and introduce new theories, ideas, and principals as well as new ways of thinking. Pure research is the source of most new information and ways of thinking in the world.
Pure research is driven by curiosity, intuition, and interest, and is more exploratory in nature than applied research. Sometimes pure research can act as a foundation for applied research.
Figure 01: Pure research has no specific goal; it aims to advance knowledge.
What is Applied Research?
Applied research, unlike pure research, is conducted in order to solve a specific and practical problem. Therefore, it tends to be descriptive in nature. However, applied research is often based on basic research or pure research. Since it is involved in solving practical problems, it often includes empirical methods.
Applied research is used in a variety of fields such as medicine, technology, education, or agriculture. Studying the relationship between genetics and cancer, observing the behaviour of children to identify the effectiveness of various interventions are some examples of applied research studies. Such studies always have a specific goal. Moreover, the results of applied research are usually intended for present use, not for future. It is also important to note that applied research studies are always based on the information or theories discovered through basic research.
Figure 02: Applied research has a specific goal.
What is the difference between Pure and Applied Research?
Pure vs Applied Research |
|
| Pure research is conducted without any specific goal. | Applied research is conducted with a specific goal in mind. |
| Aim | |
| The main aim is to advance knowledge. | The main aim is to solve a specific and practical problem. |
| Nature | |
| Pure research is exploratory in nature. | Applied research is descriptive in nature. |
| Theories and Principals | |
| Pure research identifies new ideas, theories, principals and new ways of thinking. | Applied research is based on the theories, principals discovered through pure research. |
| Findings | |
| Findings of pure research usually have a future use, not a current use. | Findings of applied research always have a current use. |
Summary – Pure vs Applied Research
The difference between pure and applied research depends on the goal of the research. Pure research, also known as basic research, has no specific goal, but it advances the knowledge and contributes to the generation of new theories, principals and ways of thinking. Applied research, on the other hand, aims to solve a specific and practical problem. Applied research is also based on the findings of pure research.
Reference:
1.”Types of Research.” EResearch Methods. University of Southampton, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.
Image Courtesy:
1. “390297” (Public Domain) via Pixabay
2. “Dr. Sadhna Joshi and Research Group” (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia