Applied Research Activity

An Applied Research Activity is a research activity that instantiates an applied research task (that seeks to improve some application).

• AKA: Applied Research Act, Industrial Research Act, Practical Research Act.
• Context:
  • It can be (typically) more of an Empirical Research Activity than a Theoretical Research Activity.
  • It can be performed by an Applied Researcher.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • Applied Physics Research, such as into Semiconductors.
  • Applied Chemistry Research, such as into a Chemical Compounds.
  • Applied Biology Research, such as into an AIDS Vaccine.
  • Applied Mathematics Research, such as into applications in the Applied Sciences.
  • Applied Computing Science Research, such as Tools for improved Computer Programming.
  • Applied Machine Learning Research, such as into automated Chess playing system.
  • Applied Data Mining Research, such as into Market Basket Analysis Algorithm, Recommendation Algorithm.
  • Text Mining Research, such as into Information Extraction Algorithms.
  • Applied Social Research.
    • Applied Psychology Research.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Basic Research Act.
• See: Basic Research Activity, Theoretical Research Activity.

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References

2015

• (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/applied_research Retrieved:2015-8-19.
  • Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of science. It accesses and uses some part of the research communities' (the academia's) accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, often state-, business-, or client-driven purpose. Applied research is contrasted with pure research (basic research) in discussion about research ideals, methodologies, programs, and projects. Applied research deals with solving practical problems and generally employs empirical methodologies. Because applied research resides in the messy real world, strict research protocols may need to be relaxed. For example, it may be impossible to use a random sample. Thus, transparency in the methodology is crucial. Implications for interpretation of results brought about by relaxing an otherwise strict canon of methodology should also be considered. Since Applied Research has a provisional close to the problem and close to the data orientation it may also use a more provisional conceptual framework such as working hypothesis or pillar questions The OECD's Frascati Manual describes Applied Research as one of the three forms of research, along with Basic research & Experimental Development. Due to its practical focus, applied research information will be found in the literature associated with individual disciplines. The military is an organization that performs a lot of applied research. For example, they may want to know about the efficacy of soldier training, how well recruitment practices work, how best to deal with host nationals in times of war, how to use the internet to reduce home grown terrorists, and the effectiveness of operational styles.

2009

• (Hoare, 2009) ⇒ C. A. R. Hoare. (2009). “Retrospective: an axiomatic basis for computer programming.” In: Communications of the ACM, 52(10). doi:10.1145/1562764.1562779
  • In 1969, I was afraid industrial research would dispose such vastly superior resources that the academic researcher would be well advised to withdraw from competition and move to a new area of research. But again, I was wrong. Pure academic research and applied industrial research are complementary, and should be pursued concurrently and in collaboration. The goal of industrial research is (and should always be) to pluck the 'low-hanging fruit'; that is, to solve the easiest parts of the most prevalent problems, in the particular circumstances of here and now. But the goal of the pure research scientist is exactly the opposite: it is to construct the most general theories, covering the widest possible range of phenomena, and to seek certainty of knowledge that will endure for future generations. It is to avoid the compromises so essential to engineering, and to seek ideals like accuracy of measurement, purity of materials, and correctness of programs, far beyond the current perceived needs of industry or popularity in the market-place. For this reason, it is only scientific research that can prepare mankind for the unknown unknowns of the forever uncertain future.

1986

• (Holmberg, 1986) ⇒ Borje Holmberg. (1986). “A Discipline of Distance Education.” In: The Journal of Distance Education, 1(1).
  • …Besides the increasing amount of research, both theoretical and practical, some institutions offer distance education courses on distance education.

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