Archive for November 30th, 2008
Basic research vs Applied research (ver.2)
Oh! Oh! Remember about me asking what’s the difference between basic research and applied research in THIS post? Well, I think I’ve finally figured it out.
Many thanks to my Oxford dictionary of Psychology, it defined basic research as research that has to do with hypothesis testing and trying to find out about a phenomena. Whereas applied research is research in trying to solve problems. Pretty clear cut huh? Well, I didn’t think so! When I was trying to categorise my saved journals into applied and science, I got confused!! So after hours of pondering and all sorts of activities inbetween (yes, this included the essay write up!), I finally got it!!
Applied in BA is something that is of social significance. Then I thought, the easiest way to distinguish between basic research and applied research is this – if the research involves rats, pigeons, and whatever animal, then it’s basic; if the study involves people with specific traits (e.g. self injurious behaviou, autism, aggression, etc), then it’s applied.
Alhamdulilah. I deserve a golden sticker! 
