The field of academic research is vast. As specialists in printing doctoral theses, we know that there are authors with a wide range of backgrounds, producing work that spans from theoretical proposals to applied research.
The latter—applied research—is the approach that has become most prevalent among PhD students in recent years. Such research has real-world implications, which is why PhD students focus on it.
What is applied research?
It is difficult to provide a single definition of applied research, as the definition varies depending on the field of work, the academic discipline and even the nature of the student’s proposal.
Generally speaking, research applications can be described as a non-systematic approach that seeks to address real-world problems in a targeted manner.
Also known as empirical or practical research, it focuses less on developing a theoretical framework and more on putting certain existing general theories into practice.
Although scientific experiments of this kind have always existed, the practice of consciously focusing on the practical applications of a research project dates back to the Industrial Revolution.
At that historic juncture, both businesses and governments focused on developing practices that would improve production, make work easier and, above all, foster economic and social progress.
It is from this point onwards that researchers focus their doctoral theses on addressing social needs across all sectors: health, the economy, industry, and so on.
What are its features?
Having established what applied research is, it is worth highlighting a number of characteristics that distinguish this type of academic work from others:
- The aim is the solution: research is undertaken to address a real-world problem.
- Practical approach: when research findings are positive, they enable that solution to be implemented directly in the real world quickly, safely and effectively.
- Based on existing theories: these studies build on existing theoretical knowledge. Researchers use this foundation to develop solutions.
- Interdisciplinary work: applied research is generally carried out by professionals from various fields, such as robotics, food processing and mechanical engineering.
- Collaborative approach: this type of research is usually funded by companies or public authorities that wish to implement the proposed solution.
- Quantifiable results: these projects have a real-world impact, meaning they can be clearly quantified and measured to assess the cost-benefit ratio.
Examples of applied research in various fields
Applied research is closely linked to the business world, but there are many other fields where it can be applied. Here are just a few examples:
Company
Applied research is used both for product development and for improving production systems. Marketing teams also make use of it, gaining valuable insights into customer behavior and how to influence it to their advantage.
Education
Through various applications of this research, it is possible to improve curricula, assess whether a particular software program has a positive impact on learning, and quantify students’ academic performance,
Politics
Political leaders constantly draw on applied research to make decisions, assess the outcomes of their proposals and gauge voter loyalty.
How to conduct applied research
As with any type of academic or scientific research, there are a number of steps that are repeated in every piece of applied research:
- Identify the problem.
- Review previous studies on the subject.
- Formulate a hypothesis.
- Work on research and data analysis.
- Draw conclusions and communicate the results.
These are the fundamental principles of any applied research, whether in the industrial or academic sphere.
