What is The Main Difference Between Applied and Action Research

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Consider you’re working on a research paper for school or a professional project at work. You’ve gathered your sources, and now you’re ready to write. But as you begin to organize your notes and craft your thesis, you realize there’s one problem: You don’t know how to write a research paper. You have some research skills but need a way to communicate what you’ve learned to others.

This scenario is all too common and frustrating when you’re pressured to produce solid work quickly. If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, you’ll be glad to know that this article can help. We’ll be unpacking the difference between applied and action research to understand these two approaches better so you can write about them confidently. We’ll also introduce Unriddle’s AI research assistant. This tool can help you enhance your writing and produce efficient papers, summaries, and articles with artificial intelligence.

Types of Research

Difference Between Applied and Action Research

Uncovering the Basics: Fundamental Research

Fundamental research digs into the reasons behind particular processes, events, or phenomena. Also called theoretical research, this type of investigation focuses on natural occurrences in pure science.

Basic research does not resolve practical problems of immediate interest, so it may not lead to immediate application. Instead, it aims to provide a systematic understanding of a subject, allowing the extraction of logical conclusions. Basic research builds new frontiers of knowledge, which can eventually lead to applied research. Here are some of its essential characteristics:

Seeks generalization

Aims at basic processes

Attempts to explain why things happen

Tries to get all the facts

Reports in the technical language of the topic

Applied Research: Solving Real-World Problems

Applied research works to solve real-world problems by employing well-known theories and principles. Most experimental research, case studies, and interdisciplinary studies fall under the umbrella of applied research. This type of research is helpful for basic research. If basic research is the foundation for applied research, then applied research is the real-world application of scientific knowledge. Here are some of its essential characteristics:

Studies individual or specific cases without the objective of generalizing

It aims at any variable that makes the desired difference

Tries to say how things can be changed

Tries to correct the problematic facts

Reports in common language

Types of Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research investigates the what, where, and when of decision-making. This type of research is numerical and non-descriptive and applies statistics or mathematics. It is an iterative process in which evidence is evaluated to reach conclusions. Results are often presented in tables and graphs. As a conclusive type of research, quantitative research seeks to find generalizable results.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research investigates the why and how of decision-making. This type of research is non-numerical and descriptive. Instead of seeking to generalize results, qualitative research aims to get the meaning and feeling of a situation. It applies reason and uses words to convey findings. Qualitative data cannot be graphed, and this exploratory type of research is often used in the early stages of investigation to understand a topic better before a more conclusive quantitative study is conducted.

Mixed Research

Mixed research combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Instead of strictly focusing on one type of research, it analyzes the characteristics of both paradigms. Data in mixed research includes various variables, words, and images.

What is Action Research Research With An Example?

Action research is a systematic approach to uncovering practical solutions to groups’ problems and challenges. It is an example of applied research.

At its core, action research is about learning by doing. First, a problem is identified. Next, some actions are taken to address it. Then, the results are measured. If the outcomes aren’t satisfactory, the steps are applied again.

Who Can Benefit from Action Research?

Action research can benefit practitioners in all fields. The process can help individuals and teams make better decisions, improve their practices, and implement change.

The Three Types of Action Research

Action research can be put into three different groups:

1. Positivist

This type of research is called “classical action research.” It considers research a social experiment. This research is used to test theories in the actual world.

2. Interpretive

This kind of research is called “contemporary action research.” It believes that business reality is socially made and focuses on the details of local and organizational factors.

3. Critical

This action research cycle takes a critical reflection approach to corporate systems and tries to enhance them.

Example of Action Research in Education

Problem

Teachers need help to engage students in a particular subject.

Research Goal

Develop and implement new teaching strategies to improve student engagement.

Research Process

Teachers collaborate with researchers to identify potential strategies, implement them in their classrooms, collect data on student engagement, and reflect on the results. Based on the findings, they may adjust their approach.

Outcome

The action research process can improve teaching practices, increase student engagement, and enhance learning outcomes.

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What is Applied Research With An Example?

Applied research identifies solutions to specific problems and helps address immediate issues facing organizations and society. It is distinct from fundamental research, which looks to expand existing knowledge. Also known as primary or pure research, basic research is often concerned with generalizations and theories. A business, agency, or individual frequently conducts applied research to solve immediate problems.

The process is usually non-systematic and exploratory. Applied research is often characterized by its practical applications. The results of applied research may lead to immediate solutions that help restore stability to a situation or organization. For example, if a manufacturing company is experiencing production delays, applied research might help identify the cause of the issues so that the organization can return to normal operations. Applied research can be divided into three categories: evaluation, research and development, and action research.

Evaluation Research: The Detective Work of Applied Research

Evaluation research allows researchers to solve problems by studying existing information. It helps determine what is known about a specific issue before collecting original data. Evaluation research is often the first step in applied research. For example, suppose a company is looking for ways to reduce supply-chain costs. In that case, it might conduct evaluation research to learn what is known about supply-chain management before developing its research project.

Research and Development: Applied Research to Help Businesses Innovate

Research and development (R&D) is applied research focusing on developing new products or processes rather than solving existing problems. It helps businesses innovate and create solutions to meet consumers’ changing needs and preferences. While R&D is crucial to improving products and processes, it is the least relevant type of research for a business dissertation.

Action Research: A Strategic Approach to Solving Immediate Problems

Action research is a systematic approach to solving specific problems. Organizations often use it to improve operations.

For example, action research could help Starbucks develop a strategy to restore its brand image after the tax scandal. This type of research is highly relevant to business dissertations because it mirrors developing a strategic plan to improve an organization’s performance. In action research, the researcher actively participates in the process and works with organizational stakeholders to solve the problem. The research results will help the organization develop an actionable plan to improve performance.

What is The Main Difference Between Applied and Action Research

Applied Research

Applied research is a systematic investigation that solves practical problems or develops new products or services. It bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications.

Examples of applied research

Developing new medical treatments

Researchers might conduct clinical trials to test the effectiveness of a new drug for a particular disease.

Improving agricultural yields

Scientists might study new farming techniques or crop varieties to increase productivity.

Developing more efficient energy sources: Engineers might research and develop alternative energy technologies like solar or wind power.

Critical characteristics of applied research

Problem-oriented

It is focused on addressing specific problems or needs.

Practical applications

The findings are directly applicable to real-world situations.

Controlled experiments

Often involve controlled experiments to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Quantitative data

Primarily relies on quantitative data, such as measurements, statistics, and surveys.

Action Research: The Collaborative Path to Problem Solving

Action research is a collaborative inquiry that involves practitioners and researchers working together to improve their practice and understanding of a particular situation. It is a cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.

Examples of action research

Improving teaching methods

Teachers might work with researchers to develop and implement new teaching strategies and assess their effectiveness.

Enhancing community development

Community leaders might collaborate with researchers to identify and address local issues and improve the quality of life.

Improving organizational performance

Managers might work with consultants to identify areas for improvement and implement new strategies.

Critical characteristics of action research

Collaborative

Involves collaboration between researchers and practitioners.

Contextualized

It is grounded in specific contexts and situations.

Iterative

It involves a cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.

Qualitative data

It often relies on qualitative data, such as interviews, observations, and case studies.

Comparison Between Basic Research and Applied Research

1. Research Outcomes: The Difference Between Curiosity and Solutions

Primary research is typically executed to learn more about a particular subject. Gaining knowledge to satisfy curiosity or confirm a theory is usually self-initiated. Primary research is informative and helps to expand existing knowledge. On the other hand, applied knowledge is directed toward finding a solution to a specific problem.

It is often conducted to assist a client in improving products, services, or issues. For example, a physicist investigating the fundamental properties of dark matter is performing basic research. The goal is to understand the universe better. Alternatively, a pharmaceutical company developing a new drug to treat a specific disease conducts applied research.

2. Research Scope: Getting Specific Makes All the Difference

Basic research uses a broad scope to apply various concepts to gain more knowledge. Research methods include studying different subjects to add more information that connects evidence points in a greater body of data. Meanwhile, applied research depends on a specific or narrow scope to gather particular evidence to address a specific problem.

For example, a biologist studying the evolution of plants in various ecosystems to understand the principles of natural selection is conducting basic research. Alternatively, a psychologist conducting a study to determine the effectiveness of a new therapy for anxiety disorders is performing applied research.

3. Research Approaches: Expanding vs. Finding Knowledge

Researchers conduct primary research to fill in gaps between existing information points. Basic knowledge is an expansion of existing knowledge to gain a deeper understanding. It is often based on how, what, or why something is the way it is. Although applied research may be based on information derived from primary research, it's not designed to expand the knowledge.

Instead, the research is conducted to find new knowledge, usually in the form of a solution. For example, a chemist conducts basic research to explore the properties of a newly discovered element and expand our understanding of the periodic table. Alternatively, an engineer developing a new type of battery to improve the efficiency of electric vehicles is performing applied research.

4. Research Commercialization: The Difference Between Informational and Commercial Gain

The primary basis of product development is to solve a problem for consumers. Primary research might lead to solutions and commercial products in the future to help with this. Since applied research is used to develop solutions, it's often used for commercial gain. For example, a linguist studying the evolution of language to understand human communication is conducting basic research. On the other hand, a software company developing a new artificial intelligence algorithm for facial recognition is performing applied research.

5. Theory Formulation: The Difference Between Theoretical and Practical Research

Primary research is often based on a theory about a specific subject. Researchers may develop a theory that grows and changes as more information is discovered during the research process. Conversely, applied research is practical since the goal is to solve a specific problem. For example, a physicist proposing a new theory of gravity to explain the universe's expansion is conducting basic research. Alternatively, an agricultural scientist developing a new farming technique to increase crop yields is performing applied research.

How To Conduct Applied Research in 9 Simple Steps

Step 1: Leverage Unriddle AI for Efficient Research

Unriddle is a powerful tool that helps you conduct applied research more efficiently. It creates an AI assistant that operates on any document. This means you can research faster and enhance your writing with AI. Unriddle lets you quickly find information in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with AI. The software is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom.

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Step 2: Pinpoint the Issue

The initial step in the applied research process is identifying a problem or formulating a research question. The agency may recognize this issue as a problem, need knowledge or information, or desire to pinpoint a national recreation trend.

Step 3: Conduct a Literature Review

Now that the problem has been established, the researcher must learn more about the topic under investigation. To do this, the researcher must review the literature related to the research problem. This step provides foundational knowledge about the problem area. The literature review also educates the researcher about what studies have been conducted in the past, how these studies were performed, and the conclusions in the problem area.

Step 4: Narrow Down the Focus

Often, the initial problem identified in the first step of the process needs to be more prominent or narrow in scope. In step 3, the researcher clarifies the issue and narrows the scope of the study. This can only be done after the literature has been reviewed. The knowledge gained through the literature review guides the researcher in clarifying and narrowing the research project.

Step 5: Define Terms and Concepts

Terms and concepts are words or phrases used in the study's purpose statement or description. These items need to be defined explicitly as they apply to the study. Terms or concepts often have different definitions depending on who is reading the study. To minimize confusion about the terms and phrases, the researcher must specifically define them for the study.

Step 6: Identify the Population

Research projects can focus on a specific group of people, facilities, park development, employee evaluations, programs, financial status, marketing efforts, or technology integration into the operations. For example, if a researcher wants to examine a specific group of people in the community, the study could examine a particular age group, males or females, people living in a specific geographic area, or a particular ethnic group. The researcher has many options to identify the group to study.

The research problem and the purpose of the study assist the researcher in identifying the group to be involved in the study. In research terms, the group engaged in the study is always called the population. Defining the population assists the researcher in several ways.

First, it narrows the scope of the survey from a substantial population to a manageable one. Second, the population identifies the group the researcher will focus on within the study. This helps ensure the researcher stays on the right path during the study. Finally, by defining the population, the researcher identifies the group to which the results will apply after the survey.

Step 7: Create an Instrumentation Plan

The instrumentation plan is the study's plan. It serves as the road map for the entire study, specifying who will participate, how, when, and where data will be collected, and the program's content.

Step 8: Gather Data

Once the instrumentation plan is completed, the study begins with data collection. Data collection is critical in providing the information needed to answer the research question. Every study includes collecting data from the literature or subjects to answer the research question. Data can be collected in the form of words on a survey, with a questionnaire, through observations, or from the literature.

Step 9: Examine the Data

All the time, effort, and resources dedicated to steps 1 through 7 of the research process culminate in this final step. The researcher finally has data to analyze so that the research question can be answered. The researcher specified how the data would be analyzed in the instrumentation plan. The researcher now analyzes the data according to the plan. The results of this analysis are then reviewed and summarized in a manner directly related to the research questions.

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How To Conduct Action Research in 8 Simple Steps

1. Identify the Problem or Issue

Begin your action research process by pinpointing the problem or issue you want to focus on. Clearly defining the topic of your research will assist in narrowing the focus of your inquiry. To accurately identify the problem, stakeholders, such as administrators, teachers, and students, must be involved to ensure that all involved understand the issue well.

2. Set Goals and Objectives

Once you've identified the problem, establish clear goals and objectives for your action research project. These goals should be achievable and relevant to the problem you're addressing.

3. Plan and Design the Research

Develop a comprehensive research plan outlining the project's steps. This plan should include the data collection methods (e.g., observations, interviews, surveys) and the analysis techniques you'll employ.

4. Collect Data

Gather data through the methods outlined in your research plan. Ensure that the data is reliable and valid.

5. Analyze Data

Analyze the collected data to identify patterns, trends, and insights. Use appropriate data analysis techniques to make sense of the information.

6. Reflect and Interpret

Reflect on your research findings and interpret their meaning about your research goals. Consider the implications of the findings for practice.

7. Take Action

Based on your research findings, implement changes or improvements to address the problem or issue. Monitor the effectiveness of these changes.

8. Evaluate and Iterate

Evaluate the impact of the changes you've implemented. If necessary, revise your research plan and repeat the process.

Action research is a cyclical process. It involves a continuous planning, acting, observing, and reflecting process. By following these steps and adhering to the fundamental principles of action research, you can conduct a meaningful and impactful inquiry that leads to positive change.

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What is Applied Research? How is It Different From Action Research?

Applied research focuses on solving specific problems. For example, applied research can help researchers solve a pressing social issue, such as homelessness, or help a business improve its sales. Both studies will produce findings that will help address the issue at hand. The research can also help fill a knowledge gap and can be used to inform future studies.

What is Action Research? How is It Different From Applied Research?

Action research also seeks to address specific problems, but it does so through a unique, cyclical process. This approach allows researchers to develop a solution to a problem, take action, assess the effectiveness of their solution, and then refine it as necessary. This iterative approach allows for continuous improvement of the solution to the problem and the overall research process.

Unriddle allows you to read faster and write better. Quickly find info in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with the power of AI. Unriddle is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom. Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of any document so you can quickly find, summarize, and understand info—no more endless skimming.

Unriddle understands the meaning behind your writing and automatically links you to relevant things you’ve read and written about. Highlight text and Unriddle will show you the most appropriate sources from your library using AI. Never lose a citation again. Generate text with AI autocomplete to improve and expand your writing, with suggestions based on the context of your work.

Step into a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute, chat with the same documents in real-time, and much more! Read faster and write better—try Unriddle for free today.