applied research and basic research examples

Basic vs. applied research

• Coding qualitative data for valuable insights

What is the difference between applied research and basic research?

Examples of basic research vs. applied research, basic vs. applied research: a comparative analysis, the interplay between basic and applied research, introduction.

Basic and applied research look at existing knowledge and create new knowledge in different ways. They share the same basic principles of contributing to knowledge through research findings, but their aims and objectives are distinctly different.

In the vast realm of scientific inquiry, research stands as the cornerstone for advancement, driving our understanding of the world and fostering innovation. At its core, research can be bifurcated into two primary types: applied and basic research . While both serve pivotal roles in contributing to our collective knowledge, they operate with distinct objectives and outcomes.

Any approach that is called basic research delves into the foundational principles and theories of science. It is driven by a researcher's curiosity and the aspiration to expand the frontiers of understanding. The primary goal isn't to solve an immediate problem but to garner knowledge for the sake of understanding.

On the other hand, applied research focuses on analysis intended to solve practical problems. Conducting applied research means seeking solutions to specific, tangible challenges that society or industries face. Using the principles derived from basic research, applied research aims to bring about real-world impact and deliver pragmatic solutions.

Basic research

Basic research, often called "pure" or "fundamental" research , is characterized by its intrinsic quest to unravel the mysteries of nature and society. It is an investigation into the very core of phenomena, aiming to discover new principles, theories, or facts without an immediate application in mind. This kind of research is often propelled by the researcher's curiosity, a thirst to understand the "why" and "how" of things, rather than the "what can we do with it."

Basic research has a relatively broad scope and aims to enhance the existing body of knowledge in a particular field. It's not about creating a new product, improving a process, or solving a current societal problem. Instead, it's about laying the groundwork for future investigations, paving the way for applied research to build upon. Basic research poses questions like, "What are the fundamental principles of this phenomenon?" or "How does this process work at different levels?"

Such goals provide the essential framework upon which much of our modern understanding and technological advancement rests. Without the exploratory and explanatory nature of basic research, the foundational knowledge needed to drive innovation would be missing.

Applied research

While basic research focuses on curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, applied research takes a different approach by examining how real-world phenomena or outcomes can be altered. At its core, applied research is oriented towards identifying practical solutions to specific problems. Its primary objective is not just to add to the existing knowledge base but to leverage that knowledge to develop solutions, innovations, or interventions that can be directly applied in the real world.

Applied research is deeply rooted in real-world issues. Whether it's finding a cure for a specific disease, developing a new technological solution for environmental challenges, or creating strategies to improve education in underprivileged communities, the primary goal is to generate practical outcomes that can be directly implemented. Its relevance is often immediately apparent, as it's tailored to answer particular challenges faced by society, industries, or organizations.

The line between basic and applied research can sometimes blur, especially when foundational discoveries from basic research lead directly to tangible applications. However, the main distinction lies in the intent: while basic research seeks to understand the fundamental nature of phenomena, applied research aims to harness that understanding for tangible benefits.

Applied research is invaluable as it accelerates the transition of theoretical knowledge into practical, impactful solutions. Through applied research, the abstract findings of basic research are transformed into actionable insights, tools, and technologies that shape our daily lives and address pressing challenges.

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Research in the social sciences encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from understanding human behavior and societal structures to exploring the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Basic and applied research methods in the social sciences offer unique insights into these areas. Let's delve into some examples to understand their distinct approaches.

Basic research examples

The social construction of reality

A classic area of investigation in sociology is understanding how societies construct reality. This kind of research delves deep into the ways cultures, languages, and institutions shape our understanding of the world. It doesn't immediately aim to solve societal problems but provides essential insights into how perceptions and beliefs are formed. Research methods often used for this type of study include in-depth interviews , participant observations , and ethnographic studies .

Attachment theory in psychology

Attachment theory seeks to understand the deep emotional and physical attachment between a child and at least one primary caregiver. It delves into the nature of attachment and its implications for personal development. The research often involves longitudinal studies that observe behaviors over extended periods.

Applied research examples

Interventions for at-risk youth

Applied researchers might design programs or interventions to help at-risk youth, building on the foundational knowledge of psychology, sociology, and education. The research might involve evaluating the effectiveness of a particular program, using methods like surveys , focus groups , and pre-and-post assessments.

Communication strategies for public health

Understanding human behavior is crucial for successful public health campaigns. Researchers might study the best ways to communicate vital health information to various populations, especially in times of crisis like pandemics. Methods often include A/B testing of messages, surveys to assess message efficacy, and observational studies to gauge real-world behavior following communication campaigns.

The distinction between basic and applied research is not just a matter of intent or outcome; it also encompasses differences in methodologies , scopes, and approaches. Let's undertake a comparative analysis to illuminate these distinctions further, particularly in the context of the social sciences.

Purpose and motivation

Basic research is motivated by the quest for knowledge. It seeks to answer fundamental questions about human behavior, societal structures, and the interplay between various social factors. The driving force here is curiosity. In contrast, applied research is driven by the need to address specific societal or practical problems. Its purpose is to take the theoretical knowledge derived from basic research and convert it into actionable solutions.

Methodological approaches

It's important to acknowledge that there is no one universal research method that can address all potential research inquiries. Moreover, the same research methods, such as conducting interviews or engaging in inductive and deductive reasoning , can be utilized in basic and applied research, but they will differ in their scope and objectives. While applied research is more experimental or confirmatory, a basic research approach is often exploratory or explanatory in nature. Basic research methods include ethnography , in-depth interviews , or longitudinal studies to gain a deep understanding of a topic. The focus is on generating theories and understanding patterns.

Applied research, on the other hand, often employs more structured and targeted methodologies. Surveys , experiments, and evaluations are commonly used to verify propositions, assess the efficacy of interventions, or gauge public opinion. The approach is more pragmatic, seeking results that can inform decisions and guide actions.

Outcomes and results

Basic research outcomes are usually theoretical contributions: new concepts, theories, or insights into existing phenomena. The results expand the academic literature and provide a foundation for future studies.

Applied research results in tangible solutions or recommendations. The outcomes might include a new social program, policy recommendations, interventions, or communication strategies. The results are geared towards immediate implementation and often have direct implications for organizations, governments, or communities.

The discourse on basic and applied research often sets them apart, emphasizing their distinct objectives and methodologies. However, it's crucial to recognize that these research types aren't isolated from each other. They coexist in a symbiotic relationship, where the findings from basic research often provide the foundational knowledge for applied research, and the results of applied research can inspire further basic investigations.

The transition of knowledge

One of the most notable instances of the interplay is how basic research's findings become the bedrock for applied research projects. For example, a basic research study on cognitive development in children might reveal specific patterns or stages. An applied researcher, recognizing the implications of these findings, could then design educational interventions tailored to these developmental stages.

How one complements the other

Basic research pushes the boundaries of our understanding, expanding the horizon of what we know. Applied research, on the other hand, can reframe this expansive knowledge and make it relevant and actionable for society's immediate needs.

But the relationship is reciprocal. Applied research can also highlight gaps in our understanding, pointing out areas where basic research is needed. For instance, if an intervention designed based on current knowledge fails to achieve its intended results, it signals to basic researchers that there might be underlying factors or dynamics not yet understood.

The dynamic continuum

Instead of viewing basic and applied research as two separate entities, it's more accurate to see them as points on a continuum. The knowledge generated by basic research flows towards applied projects, which in turn can inspire further basic investigations. This dynamic loop ensures that research in the social sciences remains both grounded in fundamental understanding and relevant to real-world challenges.

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The difference between basic and applied research – Key differences

 In a rapidly evolving landscape of scientific and technological innovation, understanding the inner workings of research is increasingly vital.

Whether you’re a seasoned academic, an industry professional, or simply a curious individual, comprehending the difference between applied and basic research is used to provide critical insights into how knowledge is both generated and utilized. 

These two kinds of research, while distinct in their aims and methodologies, often serve as two sides of the same coin, each with its unique contributions and challenges.

By examining research outcomes, funding sources, criticisms, and examples from both categories, this comprehensive blog demystifies the often blurry line that separates basic research vs applied research methods. 

If you’ve ever pondered which type of research to use for a project or questioned how basic principles derived from foundational studies turn into real-world applications, this exploration offers a lens into the multifaceted world of research.

Key Differences Between Basic and Applied Research

In the realm of scientific inquiry, understanding the key differences between basic and applied research is crucial. These two types of research serve distinct purposes and often utilize different research methods, but they are interconnected in the quest for new knowledge.

Basic Research

Basic research focuses on the acquisition of fundamental understanding without immediate application in mind. 

For example, when Einstein was formulating his theories in physics, he was conducting basic research.

He sought to explain the laws governing the universe but didn’t necessarily aim to solve a practical problem.

Basic research often gets criticized for not having apparent applications, but it lays the groundwork for future advancements. Years after Einstein, his theories paved the way for the development of laser technology, used in everything from DVDs to medical procedures.

Applied Research

Applied research focuses on solving specific, practical problems. It’s the type of research used when health psychologists want to tackle rising rates of cardiovascular diseases, for instance. Conducting applied research, they may investigate effective messaging strategies to encourage healthier diets, aiming to produce tangible benefits in public health. 

Applied research seeks to utilize scientific understanding for a particular real-world issue.

The line between basic and applied research is not always clear-cut. While applied research may yield new knowledge that contributes to a broader understanding of human behavior, basic research may inadvertently lead to practical applications.

For instance, research in quantum mechanics, which was initially considered highly theoretical, has found applications in modern computing.

It’s also worth noting that the research methods employed may differ based on the type of research being conducted.

Applied research often employs methods like case studies, surveys, or controlled experiments aimed at resolving a specific issue, whereas basic research might involve more theoretical or observational methods aimed at general understanding.

While basic research often explores theoretical concepts without an immediate application, applied research focuses on real-world issues. Both are integral in advancing our collective knowledge and sometimes unexpectedly complement each other in offering solutions to challenges we face.

 What’s better? Basic vs applied research?

The debate between the impact of basic and applied research is an enduring one, and both sides have compelling arguments. The key differences between the two types of research are their aims and methods.

• Basic research focuses on generating new knowledge and understanding fundamental principles, often without an immediate application in mind.
• Applied research, on the other hand, seeks to solve specific problems and is often guided by practical outcomes.

One could argue, as some experts do, that basic research often has a more profound long-term impact. For instance, the discovery of the structure of DNA was a feat of basic research.

Today, it serves as the cornerstone for a multitude of applied research projects in genetics, forensics, and medicine. Another example of basic research is the development of quantum mechanics, which initially appeared to be an abstract field but has led to the invention of technologies like semiconductors and MRI machines.

Conversely, applied research focuses on immediate needs and therefore, its impact can be more immediately visible.

Examples of applied research include the development of COVID-19 vaccines or the creation of energy-efficient technologies. This type of research often uses methods and knowledge generated by basic research to achieve its goals.

The contention that applied research can be counterproductive due to its narrow focus and the push to monetize findings is a nuanced issue.

While entrepreneurship courses in academic settings may appear to detract from the purity of research, they can also offer researchers tools to transform basic research into applied solutions, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive; basic research and applied research often go hand in hand.

Researchers conducting applied research may stumble upon findings that contribute to new knowledge, just as those conducting basic research may see their work result in unexpected applications.

Examples of basic research vs applied research

Basic research:.

• Genetic Sequencing : Research to understand the sequences of DNA and what each gene does.
• Particle Physics : Experiments in places like CERN to understand the basic building blocks of the universe.
• Social Psychology Theories : Studying human behavior in a controlled environment to understand basic social interactions.
• Climate Models : Researching the fundamental mechanisms that control climate change without necessarily looking for immediate solutions.
• Pure Mathematics : Investigating abstract mathematical concepts that may not have an immediate application.
• Astronomy : Observing and mapping distant celestial bodies to understand the universe’s structure.
• Brain Mapping : Basic research on how neurons communicate within the brain, without a targeted application.
• Evolutionary Biology : Studying how organisms evolve over time to adapt to their environment.

Applied Research:

• Pharmaceuticals : Developing new drugs based on an understanding of disease mechanisms.
• Renewable Energy : Researching better solar panels or wind turbines to harness energy more efficiently.
• Market Research : Understanding consumer behavior to improve product design or advertising strategies.
• Educational Methods : Evaluating teaching strategies to improve educational outcomes.
• Medical Procedures : Research to develop new surgical techniques or medical devices.
• Cybersecurity : Designing new types of encryption or security measures based on vulnerabilities.
• Agricultural Techniques : Researching better ways to increase crop yield or protect against pests.
• Transportation : Developing new materials for lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Careers in basic research and applied research

Here are some examples of careers that use mainly basic or applied research – but some scientists do a mixture of both.

Careers in Basic Research:

• Theoretical Physicist : Focuses on understanding the fundamental laws governing physical phenomena.
• Astrophysicist : Studies the properties and behaviors of celestial bodies and the universe.
• Mathematician : Conducts research in pure mathematics, exploring abstract concepts.
• Geneticist : Investigates genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.
• Neuroscientist : Researches the complexities of the nervous system, including the brain.
• Biochemist : Studies the chemical processes within and related to living organisms.
• Cognitive Psychologist : Explores the mental processes behind human behavior.
• Archaeologist : Conducts research to understand human history and pre-history through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts.
• Geologist : Studies the Earth’s physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.

Careers in Applied Research:

• Pharmaceutical Researcher : Develops new drugs or medical treatments.
• Environmental Consultant : Provides advice on environmental regulations and conducts research to solve environmental problems.
• Data Scientist : Uses statistical models to analyze data for actionable insights, often for businesses.
• Mechanical Engineer : Designs and tests new devices, often focused on solving specific mechanical problems.
• Market Research Analyst : Conducts research to understand market trends and consumer behavior.
• Clinical Psychologist : Applies psychological research to treat mental health disorders.
• Agricultural Scientist : Researches ways to improve the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems.
• Software Developer : Creates new software based on research into user needs, technological advancements, or problem-solving.
• Nutritional Epidemiologist : Studies the relationship between diet and health outcomes, often aiming for public health applications.

Wrapping up – applied research and basic research

As we’ve journeyed through this comprehensive exploration of applied research and basic research, it’s clear that each holds its unique place in the expansive world of research.

The two are like siblings—different in personality but stemming from the same family of intellectual inquiry.

Basic research is theoretical and often provides the foundation for applied research. On the flip side, applied research is practical in nature and focuses on solving immediate real-world problems.

Despite their differences, one can’t exist optimally without the other.

Basic research helps pave the way for advancements in applied research, while findings from applied research can loop back to enrich our foundational knowledge.

While basic research tends to engage with more conceptual questions, applied research is driven by practical problems that require immediate solutions. These different types of research methods can serve different purposes but are not mutually exclusive.

The world of research is enriched by the interplay between basic and applied research methods. Whether theoretical or practical, long-term or immediate, both contribute significantly to our understanding and make up the vibrant tapestry of research that seeks to answer questions, solve problems, and improve our lives.

And there we have it—your guided tour through the landscape of applied and basic research is complete!

Whether you’re an aspiring researcher, an industry professional, or a curious individual, understanding these key differences between basic and applied research will surely add a valuable layer to your perspective.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Basic and Applied Research

On the contrary, applied research implies the research that is put to practical use and is beneficial to solve practical problems. This article might help you in understanding the difference between basic and applied research.

Content: Basic Research Vs Applied Research

Comparison chart.

Definition of Basic Research

Basic Research or otherwise called as pure or fundamental research, is one that focuses on advancing scientific knowledge for the complete understanding of a topic or certain natural phenomenon, primarily in natural sciences. In a nutshell, when knowledge is acquired for the sake of knowledge it is called basic research.

Basic Research is completely theoretical, that focuses on basic principles and testing theories. It tends to understand the basic law.

Basic Research deals with generalization and formulation of theory about human behaviour. It is aligned towards collecting information that has universal applicability. Therefore, basic research helps in adding new knowledge to the already existing knowledge.

Definition of Applied Research

Applied Research can be defined as research that encompasses real life application of the natural science. It is directed towards providing a solution to the specific practical problems and develop innovative technology.

In finer terms, it is the research that can be applied to real-life situations. It studies a particular set of circumstances, so as to relate the results to its corresponding circumstances.

Applied research includes research that focuses on certain conclusions experiencing a business problem. Moreover, research that is aligned towards ascertaining social, economic or political trends are also termed as applied research.

Key Differences Between Basic and Applied Research

The points given below explain the differences between basic and applied research:

• Basic Research can be explained as research that tries to expand the already existing scientific knowledge base. On the contrary, applied research is used to mean the scientific study that is helpful in solving real-life problems.
• While basic research is purely theoretical, applied research has a practical approach.
• The applicability of basic research is greater than the applied research, in the sense that the former is universally applicable whereas the latter can be applied only to the specific problem, for which it was carried out.
• The primary concern of the basic research is to develop scientific knowledge and predictions. On the other hand, applied research stresses on the development of technology and technique with the help of basic science.
• The fundamental goal of the basic research is to add some knowledge to the already existing one. Conversely, applied research is directed towards finding a solution to the problem under consideration.

The type of research may vary on the basis of the level at which research is carried out and its purpose. One can choose basic research over applied research when the purpose is to add certain scientific knowledge, whereas when it is important to identify a proper solution to the problem under study, applied research is preferable.

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Science in School

What is it good for basic versus applied research teach article.

Author(s): Martin McHugh, Marcus Baumann, Sarah Hayes, F. Jerry Reen, Laurie Ryan, Davide Tiana, Jessica Whelan

Basic research is often misunderstood by the public and misconstrued by the media. Try this role play to learn how research is funded and how basic research advances and protects society.

In 2019, an international research group published a paper examining the effect of the song Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites by Skrillex on the breeding behaviours of mosquitos. [ 1 ]  The paper became a viral news story, with many media outlets using the ‘obscure’ research story to generate clicks. However, the research concluded that, when mosquitos were exposed to the song, they bit less and refrained from mating. The paper generated equal amounts of praise and criticism but highlights the potential of basic research and creative thinking in science. Indeed, the historical problem with basic research is the lack of immediate commercial objectives. To non-scientists, basic research can seem like a waste of money, whereas applied research, designed to solve practical problems with obvious scientific and societal benefits, seems like a better use of resources.

The following activity will bring the debate into the classroom and allow students to explore the pros and cons of basic and applied research. Using an argumentation framework, students will discuss the merits of a variety of research projects, with updates to show how some of them later turned out to be important for vaccine development for COVID-19.

What kinds of research should be funded?

In this activity, students will be divided into groups of funders and scientists. Using the materials provided, the scientists will pitch their research proposals to the funders, who will have €100 000 at their disposal. The activity will also provide cues to promote argumentation among students to develop critical thinking, reasoning, communication, and scientific literacy skills. [ 2 ]

Learning objectives and context

After the activity, students should understand

• how scientific research is funded and that this involves difficult decisions;
• the difference between basic and applied research;
• how applied research relies on basic research findings, and that it is difficult to predict what might become useful.

To set the scene, students should be asked who they think funds scientific research. Students will generate multiple answers, from the government to universities and industry. Truthfully, funding can come from a variety of sources and can be public, private, national, or international.

The next question is how do funding bodies select what research should be funded. Scientific research is often broadly divided into two types: basic research (also called fundamental research) and applied research.

• Basic research is about pushing the boundaries of our understanding and generating new knowledge. An example is researching how a physiological process works at the molecular level.
• Applied research involves applying existing knowledge to create solutions to specific problems. An example is developing a treatment for a disease.

However, many research projects have elements of both basic and applied research. Research scientists from around the world must compete and push the merits of their work to get funding.

The following role-play activity will put students in the shoes of both the funding bodies and scientists. In groups, students will be asked to pitch their project proposal to the funders, who will ultimately decide how to allocate €100 000 to a variety of projects.

A key element of this lesson is to encourage debate and argumentation. Students acting as scientists should try to convince funders with their words. They should be encouraged to make claims, rebuttals, and back up their statements with data, if possible. Each scientist will have an individual text that will give them the information to argue effectively. To support debate, funders are given a list of key questions, along with more probing questions. This activity can also be extended over multiple lessons to allow students time to debate.

Funder information sheet

Project proposal cards

Discussion cards

• For this role-play activity, divide students into groups of five or six. Each group requires four scientists and at least one funder.
• Hand out the project proposal cards to the four scientists in each group.There are four project proposals and each scientist should get a different one. One of these proposals is highly applied, while the others are more basic. All funders receive the same information sheet and can allocate €100 000. If there are two funders in a single group, then they must come to a consensus.
• Give students 10 minutes to read over their documents. Funders need to be aware of the key questions (on the information sheet) they can use to assess the proposals. Scientists need to be aware of the key arguments they need to make to receive funding (on the proposal cards).
• Each scientist then gets 2 minutes uninterrupted to make their ‘pitch’ for funding. Once complete, funders need to ask key questions and all scientists are allowed argue their positions against each other. This should take around 15 minutes.
• At the end of the activity, funders are asked to fill in the funding-allocation table at the bottom of their information sheet. This is to be kept private.
• In turn, ask the funders from each group to the front of the class. The table on their sheets can be copied onto the board and funders can fill this out. Once complete, they need to give a brief justification to the class for their decision.
• Throughout this process, ask the students if they are seeing any patterns emerging in the funding between groups.
• Ask whether the students think each project is more basic or applied.
• Next, hand out the discussion cards to each group. Project 3 is purely applied and has a clear link to vaccines, but these cards describe how proposals 1, 2, and 4 turned out to be fundamental to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in unexpected ways.
• Get the class to discuss whether this new information would have changed their funding decisions.
• Discuss whether the applications envisioned by the researchers were necessarily those that turned out to be important.

As previously stated, the goal of this activity is that students understand how research is funded and the differences between applied and basic research. The activity is designed to highlight how basic research often forms the foundation for applied research. Both types of research are important, but basic research can be perceived negatively in the eyes of the public. It is often impossible to predict how knowledge gained through a basic research project could be vital for an application in the future. Often multiple scientific advances have to be combined for an applied impact. Sometimes, scientists must accept that they may not be able to identify an immediate application for new knowledge generated. However, without new knowledge, we may lack the foundation for future applications that could be years away.

In this example, the three more basic research proposals proved to be vital to the final application. This can be easily illustrated with proposal cards 1 and 3. Proposal card 1 discusses modified mRNA, and this research underpinned the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine. The two proposals are so closely linked that you can replace the word ‘polynucleotide(s)’ with mRNA on proposal card 3 and the document still makes perfect sense.

As a follow up to this activity, ask students to go online and find the most obscure and weird basic scientific research (that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal) they can find. The Ig Nobel Prizes are a good source of inspiration for this. Similar to the mosquito example used in the introduction to this activity, get the students to find practical applications behind the headlines and articles.

[1] Dieng H et al. (2019). The electronic song “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” reduces host attack and mating success in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti . Acta tropica 194 :93–99. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.027

[2] Erduran S, Ozdem Y, Park JY (2015). Research trends on argumentation in science education: a journal content analysis from 1998–2014 . International Journal of STEM Education , 2 :5. doi: 10.1186/s40594-015-0020-1.

• Discover CRISPR-Cas9 and how it revolutionized gene editing: Chan H (2016)  Faster, cheaper, CRISPR: the new gene technology revolution .  Science in School   38 :18–21.
• Read an article on different techniques to resolve and predict protein structures: Heber S (2021)  From gaming to cutting-edge biology: AI and the protein folding problem .  Science in School   52 .
• Read an article on how modern vaccines work: Paréj K (2021)  Vaccines in the spotlight .  Science in School   53 .
• Visit the Annals of Improbable Research , which runs the Ig Nobel Prizes, to learn more about research that makes you laugh and then makes you think.
• Read a simple explanation of basic research and its importance from the National Institute of Health.
• Read a short article from Harvard University on the importance of basic research .
• Watch a video on the potential uses of CRISPR outside gene editing.
• Watch a video on how 50 years of fundamental research enabled the rapid development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.
• Read an article from STAT describing the main steps that – 50 years later – led to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines .
• Watch a video introducing the ESRF and its 41 beamlines .
• Read an article from Scientific American that underlines the important issue of research funding and final profits .
• Read an article from c&en magazine on synchrotrons and their uses .
• Read an   interview with Katalin Karikó  in  Scientific American  that discusses her role in developing the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr Martin McHugh is the education and public engagement officer for SSPC , the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centre for pharmaceuticals at the University of Limerick. Formerly a researcher in informal learning and part-time lecturer on science education, he has degrees from NUI Galway and the University of Edinburgh in environmental science and teaching. He is also a qualified secondary school science and biology teacher.

Dr Marcus Baumann is an assistant professor in the School of Chemistry at University College Dublin. He leads a research group aiming to develop new methods for the sustainable generation of drug-like molecules through the use of continuous-flow technologies. These methods are based on using light and enzymes in combination with machines to synthesise biologically active molecules.

Dr Sarah Hayes is the chief operating officer (COO) of SSPC . Sarah’s background is in physical chemistry and she received her PhD in Science Education. Sarah has many years of teaching experience as a physics and chemistry teacher. Through her various roles, she has been involved in research, curriculum development, and continuous professional development courses. Her most significant focus has been informal and non-formal learning and engagement.

Dr Jerry Reen is a lecturer in molecular microbial ecology at University College Cork. His research team study polymicrobial biofilm communities to understand molecular communication systems between species in disease and biotechnology. They also apply molecular technologies to harness biocatalytic proteins and bioactive compounds of marine origin.

Laurie Ryan is an assistant lecturer in general science at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). She is a former secondary school science teacher and conducts research in the area of STEM education and outreach. She is currently finishing her PhD examining argumentation in non-formal learning environments.

Dr Davide Tiana is a lecturer in inorganic chemistry at University College Cork. His independent group uses computational chemistry to study, understand, and explain chemistry. Their research goals range from developing new models to better explain chemical interactions (e.g., chemical bonding, dispersion forces) to the design of new molecules such as nanodrugs.

Dr Jessica Whelan is a lecturer at the University College Dublin School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. Her research focuses on developing tools and approaches to optimize the production of proteins, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies. The aim is to make medicines available to patients at the highest quality and lowest cost possible.

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Understanding basic research

Last updated

8 February 2023

Reviewed by

Cathy Heath

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Research is an essential activity for all of us. It's how we foster curiosity, gather information, learn about the world, and find solutions. There are many different types of research, but they all fall into one of two categories: basic and applied.

This article will look at basic research, what it is, how we use it, and how it compares to applied research.

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• What is basic research?

Basic research is all about information-gathering and answering What, Why, and How research questions. It involves learning the facts about a subject, finding out why things happen, perhaps by investigation or observation, and then using this expanded knowledge to better understand the topic.

Basic research is also called fundamental, foundational, or pure research.

• Where is basic research used?
• What are examples of basic research?

Studying how a client moves through the sales funnel process

Examining the components of a cell

Analyzing performance before and after coffee consumption

Looking at how stress affects productivity

Determining which areas of a country are driest and wettest

Understanding how a doctor makes a mental health diagnosis

• What are basic research methods?

You can conduct basic research using several different methods. The best method will depend on what you are studying and what questions you are trying to answer.

Some methods available for basic research include:

Experimentation

Conducting a survey or interview

Observation

• What is the value of basic research?

Basic research teaches us about the world around us. It helps us gather more primary data about a subject, which we can use later in applied research. Without that basic information on a subject, we wouldn't have the data we need to make informed decisions.

That's why basic research is often called  foundational research . The information we acquire through basic research gives us a foundation of knowledge we can build on in the future.

• Is basic research qualitative or quantitative?

Basic research can be qualitative, quantitative, or both.

Quantitative data deals with  quantities  or numbers. You could chart this data on a graph, using measurements such as:

Other numerical data

Qualitative data deals with  qualities .  It focuses more on the language and sentiment found in:

Interview responses

Observations about human behavior

Verbal answers to surveys

You can get qualitative and quantitative data from basic research, depending on what you are researching and the methods you use.

• Basic research vs. applied research

Where basic research gathers information and data on a subject, applied research uses that data to look for answers to questions. Applied research takes the data obtained in basic research and applies it to answer a question and provide a possible solution.

There are three types of applied research:

Evaluation research: determining how well something is working or what it’s worth

Action research: understanding how to improve a process, for example in education or business

Research and development: looking at new products and services that businesses can offer consumers to solve a problem

Applied research often hinges on data collected during basic research. For example, you might gather data on how customers move through the sales funnel. The information you learn about the customer journey comes from your basic research, which you might gather through website analytics and customer interviews.

Now you want to know the best method for bringing more people into the sales funnel. You could use applied research to determine if it's better to increase your digital ad spending, send more emails, or use telemarketing to capture more sales leads.

Where is applied research used?

As applied research is solution-based, agencies concerned with medical research, psychology, and education all use it to improve lives. For businesses, applied research is the foundation of research and development (R&D) departments that are looking to create new consumer products and services.

You can also use applied research in your everyday life. You might use basic research to gather data on how caffeine affects your sleeping patterns, then use applied research techniques to determine how to get a better night's sleep.

Examples of applied research

Examples of applied research include:

Identifying new products to help aging seniors stay safe at home

Looking at ways to treat a medical condition safely

Determining how to make products last longer 

Examining the best ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes

Understanding how to engage teens in math classes

How to market a product to Gen Z

Understanding how businesses could help reduce their impact on climate change

What is the value of applied research?

Applied research's value lies in its ability to help us solve problems with data-backed solutions. However, without comprehensive basic research at the outset, we wouldn't have the information we need to find those solutions. This illustrates why basic research and applied research often work hand in hand, supporting research efforts and validating better outcomes.

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Home » Applied Research – Types, Methods and Examples

Applied Research – Types, Methods and Examples

Table of Contents

Applied Research

Definition:

Applied research is a type of scientific inquiry that focuses on developing practical solutions to real-world problems. It involves the use of existing knowledge, theories, and techniques to address specific problems or challenges in a particular field or industry.

Applied research is often conducted in collaboration with industry or government partners, who provide funding and expertise to support the research. The results of applied research are typically intended to be directly applicable to the real world, and may involve the development of new products, technologies, or processes.

Types of Applied Research

Types of Applied Research are as follows:

Action Research

This type of research is designed to solve specific problems within an organization or community. The research involves collaboration between researchers and stakeholders to develop solutions to issues that affect the organization or community.

Evaluation Research

This type of research is used to assess the effectiveness of a particular program, policy, or intervention. Evaluation research is often used in government, healthcare, and social service settings to determine whether programs are meeting their intended goals.

Developmental Research

This type of research is used to develop new products, technologies, or processes. The research may involve the testing of prototypes or the development of new methods for production or delivery.

Diagnostic Research

This type of research is used to identify the causes of problems or issues. Diagnostic research is often used in healthcare, where researchers may investigate the causes of a particular disease or condition.

Policy Research

This type of research is used to inform policy decisions. Policy research may involve analyzing the impact of existing policies or evaluating the potential outcomes of proposed policies.

Predictive Research

This type of research is used to forecast future trends or events. Predictive research is often used in marketing, where researchers may use data analysis to predict consumer behavior or market trends.

Data Collection Methods

In applied research, data collection methods can be broadly classified into two categories: Quantitative and Qualitative methods:

Quantitative Data Collection

Quantitative research methods involve collecting numerical data that can be analyzed statistically. The most commonly used quantitative data collection methods in applied research include:

• Surveys : Surveys are questionnaires designed to collect data from a large sample of people. Surveys can be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or online.
• Experiments : Experiments involve manipulating variables to test cause-and-effect relationships. Experiments can be conducted in the lab or in the field.
• Observations : Observations involve watching and recording behaviors or events in a systematic way. Observations can be conducted in the lab or in natural settings.
• Secondary data analysis: Secondary data analysis involves analyzing data that has already been collected by someone else. This can include data from government agencies, research institutes, or other sources.

Qualitative Data Collection

Qualitative research methods involve collecting non-numerical data that can be analyzed for themes and patterns. The most commonly used qualitative data collection methods in applied research include:

• Interviews : Interviews involve asking open-ended questions to individuals or groups. Interviews can be conducted in-person, over the phone, or online.
• Focus groups : Focus groups involve a group of people discussing a topic with a moderator. Focus groups can be conducted in-person or online.
• Case studies : Case studies involve in-depth analysis of a single individual, group, or organization.
• Document analysis : Document analysis involves analyzing written or recorded documents to extract data. This can include analyzing written records, audio recordings, or video recordings.

Data Analysis Methods

In applied research, data analysis methods can be broadly classified into two categories: Quantitative and Qualitative methods:

Quantitative Data Analysis

Quantitative data analysis methods involve analyzing numerical data to identify patterns and trends. The most commonly used quantitative data analysis methods in applied research include:

• Descriptive statistics: Descriptive statistics involve summarizing and presenting data using measures such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
• Inferential statistics : Inferential statistics involve testing hypotheses and making predictions about a population based on a sample of data. This includes methods such as t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, and correlation analysis.
• Data mining: Data mining involves analyzing large datasets to identify patterns and relationships using machine learning algorithms.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative data analysis methods involve analyzing non-numerical data to identify themes and patterns. The most commonly used qualitative data analysis methods in applied research include:

• Content analysis: Content analysis involves analyzing written or recorded data to identify themes and patterns. This includes methods such as thematic analysis, discourse analysis, and narrative analysis.
• Grounded theory: Grounded theory involves developing theories and hypotheses based on the analysis of data.
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Interpretative phenomenological analysis involves analyzing data to identify the subjective experiences of individuals.
• Case study analysis: Case study analysis involves analyzing a single individual, group, or organization in-depth to identify patterns and themes.

Applied Research Methodology

Applied research methodology refers to the set of procedures, tools, and techniques used to design, conduct, and analyze research studies aimed at solving practical problems in real-world settings. The general steps involved in applied research methodology include:

• Identifying the research problem: The first step in applied research is to identify the problem to be studied. This involves conducting a literature review to identify existing knowledge and gaps in the literature, and to determine the research question.
• Developing a research design : Once the research question has been identified, the next step is to develop a research design. This involves determining the appropriate research method (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), selecting the data collection methods, and designing the sampling strategy.
• Collecting data: The third step in applied research is to collect data using the selected data collection methods. This can include surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, or a combination of methods.
• Analyzing data : Once the data has been collected, it needs to be analyzed using appropriate data analysis methods. This can include descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, content analysis, or other methods, depending on the type of data collected.
• Interpreting and reporting findings : The final step in applied research is to interpret the findings and report the results. This involves drawing conclusions from the data analysis and presenting the findings in a clear and concise manner.

Applications of Applied Research

Some applications of applied research are as follows:

• Product development: Applied research can help companies develop new products or improve existing ones. For example, a company might conduct research to develop a new type of battery that lasts longer or a new type of software that is more efficient.
• Medical research : Applied research can be used to develop new treatments or drugs for diseases. For example, a pharmaceutical company might conduct research to develop a new cancer treatment.
• Environmental research : Applied research can be used to study and address environmental problems such as pollution and climate change. For example, research might be conducted to develop new technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Agriculture : Applied research can be used to improve crop yields, develop new varieties of plants, and study the impact of pests and diseases on crops.
• Education : Applied research can be used to study the effectiveness of teaching methods or to develop new teaching strategies.
• Transportation : Applied research can be used to develop new technologies for transportation, such as electric cars or high-speed trains.
• Communication : Applied research can be used to improve communication technologies, such as developing new methods for wireless communication or improving the quality of video calls.

Examples of Applied Research

Here are some real-time examples of applied research:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Development: The development of COVID-19 vaccines is a prime example of applied research. Researchers applied their knowledge of virology and immunology to develop vaccines that could prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19.
• Autonomous Vehicles : The development of autonomous vehicles involves applied research in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics. Companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Uber are conducting extensive research to improve their autonomous vehicle technology.
• Renewable Energy : Research is being conducted on renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This is an example of applied research that aims to solve environmental problems.
• Precision Agriculture : Applied research is being conducted in the field of precision agriculture, which involves using technology to optimize crop yields and reduce waste. This includes research on crop sensors, drones, and data analysis.
• Telemedicine : Telemedicine involves using technology to deliver healthcare remotely. Applied research is being conducted to improve the quality of telemedicine services, such as developing new technologies for remote diagnosis and treatment.
• Cybersecurity : Applied research is being conducted to improve cybersecurity measures and protect against cyber threats. This includes research on encryption, network security, and data protection.

Purpose of Applied Research

The purpose of applied research is to solve practical problems or improve existing products, technologies, or processes. Applied research is focused on specific goals and objectives and is designed to have direct practical applications in the real world. It seeks to address problems and challenges faced by individuals, organizations, or communities and aims to provide solutions that can be implemented in a practical manner.

The primary purpose of applied research is to generate new knowledge that can be used to solve real-world problems or improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing products, technologies, or processes. Applied research is often conducted in collaboration with industry, government, or non-profit organizations to address practical problems and create innovative solutions.

Applied research is also used to inform policy decisions by providing evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of specific interventions or programs. By conducting research on the impact of policies and programs, decision-makers can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and prioritize interventions.

Overall, the purpose of applied research is to improve people’s lives by developing practical solutions to real-world problems. It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and to ensure that research findings are put into action to achieve tangible benefits.

When to use Applied Research

Here are some specific situations when applied research may be appropriate:

• When there is a need to develop a new product : Applied research can be used to develop new products that meet the needs of consumers. For example, a company may conduct research to develop a new type of smartphone with improved features.
• When there is a need to improve an existing product : Applied research can also be used to improve existing products. For example, a company may conduct research to improve the battery life of an existing product.
• When there is a need to solve a practical problem: Applied research can be used to solve practical problems faced by individuals, organizations, or communities. For example, research may be conducted to find solutions to problems related to healthcare, transportation, or environmental issues.
• When there is a need to inform policy decisions: Applied research can be used to inform policy decisions by providing evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of specific interventions or programs.
• When there is a need to improve efficiency and effectiveness: Applied research can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes or systems. For example, research may be conducted to identify ways to streamline manufacturing processes or to improve the delivery of healthcare services.

Characteristics of Applied Research

The following are some of the characteristics of applied research:

• Focus on solving real-world problems : Applied research focuses on addressing specific problems or needs in a practical setting, with the aim of developing solutions that can be implemented in the real world.
• Goal-oriented: A pplied research is goal-oriented, with a specific aim of solving a particular problem or meeting a specific need. The research is usually designed to achieve a specific outcome, such as developing a new product, improving an existing process, or solving a particular issue.
• Practical and relevant: Applied research is practical and relevant to the needs of the industry or field in which it is conducted. It aims to provide practical solutions that can be implemented to improve processes or solve problems.
• Collaborative : Applied research often involves collaboration between researchers and practitioners, such as engineers, scientists, and business professionals. Collaboration allows for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, which can lead to more effective solutions.
• Data-driven: Applied research is data-driven, relying on empirical evidence to support its findings and recommendations. Data collection and analysis are important components of applied research, as they help to identify patterns and trends that can inform decision-making.
• Results-oriented: Applied research is results-oriented, with an emphasis on achieving measurable outcomes. Research findings are often used to inform decisions about product development, process improvement, or policy changes.
• Time-bound : Applied research is often conducted within a specific timeframe, with deadlines for achieving specific outcomes. This helps to ensure that the research stays focused on its goals and that the results are timely and relevant to the needs of the industry or field.

Advantages of Applied Research

Some of the advantages of applied research are as follows:

• Practical solutions: Applied research is focused on developing practical solutions to real-world problems, making it highly relevant to the needs of the industry or field in which it is conducted. The solutions developed through applied research are often highly effective and can be implemented quickly to address specific issues.
• Improved processes: Applied research can help organizations to improve their processes, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. The research can identify areas for improvement, such as bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and provide recommendations for optimizing processes.
• Innovation: Applied research can lead to the development of new products, services, and technologies that can transform industries and create new opportunities for growth and innovation. The research can help organizations to identify unmet needs and develop new solutions to meet them.
• Collaboration : Applied research often involves collaboration between researchers and practitioners, leading to the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Collaboration can result in more effective solutions and can help to build partnerships between academia and industry.
• Increased competitiveness : Applied research can help organizations to stay competitive by enabling them to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs. The research can provide insights into emerging trends and technologies, helping organizations to stay ahead of the curve.
• Economic growth: Applied research can contribute to economic growth by creating new industries and jobs. The research can lead to the development of new technologies and products that can drive economic growth and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Limitations of Applied Research

Some of the limitations of applied research are as follows:

• Limited generalizability: Applied research often focuses on specific contexts and may not be generalizable to other settings. This means that the findings of applied research may not be applicable to other industries, regions, or populations.
• Time and resource constraints: Applied research is often conducted within a specific timeframe and with limited resources. This can limit the scope and depth of the research and may prevent researchers from exploring all possible avenues.
• Potential for bias: Applied research may be influenced by the interests and perspectives of the organization or industry funding the research. This can lead to a bias in the research and potentially compromise the objectivity and validity of the findings.
• Ethical considerations: Applied research may raise ethical concerns, particularly if it involves human subjects or sensitive issues. Researchers must adhere to ethical standards and ensure that the research is conducted in a responsible and respectful manner.
• Limited theoretical development: Applied research tends to focus on practical solutions and may not contribute significantly to theoretical development in a particular field. This can limit the broader impact of the research and may hinder the development of new theories and frameworks.
• Limited focus on long-term impact: Applied research often focuses on short-term outcomes, such as developing a new product or improving a process. This may limit the focus on long-term impacts, such as the sustainability of the solution or its broader implications for the industry or society.

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Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Basic Research vs Applied Research: Key Differences and Similarities

Research is crucial for expanding knowledge and developing solutions to problems. But there are different categories and approaches to research. Understanding the distinctions between basic research and applied research is important for determining the right approach for your goals. This guide examines the key differences and similarities between the two types of research.

Defining Basic and Applied Research

Basic research also known as pure or fundamental research aims to expand knowledge without necessarily providing solutions or applications. It is driven by curiosity and theory, seeking to understand fundamental principles.

In contrast, applied research uses scientific methods and existing knowledge to solve real-world problems. It answers specific questions to practically apply findings rather than build theories.

While basic research advances general knowledge, applied research meets the needs of end users.

Key Differences Between Basic and Applied Research

Though both valid forms of science, basic and applied research diverge in their focus, methods, and outcomes:

Purpose: Basic research is curiosity-driven, expanding knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Applied research is solution-driven, improving products, processes, or services.

Objectives Basic research goals are open-ended understanding and theory building, Applied research has defined objectives to solve issues,

Scope Basic research takes a broad, universal approach. Applied research narrows its focus on a specific problem

Application: Basic research findings may inform applied work but lack direct application themselves initially. Applied research generates immediately relevant solutions.

Outcomes: Basic research leads to new theories, principles, and models. Applied research yields prototypes, programs, patents, and policy changes.

Timelines: Basic research often involves long timelines without deadlines. Applied research works on shorter timelines aimed at tangible deliverables.

Funding sources: Basic research receives public funding while applied research often relies on commercial investment.

Similarities Between Basic and Applied Research

Despite their contrasts, basic and applied research share some core similarities:

Scientific rigor – Both employ systematic, controlled, empirical methods to collect and analyze data.

Building knowledge – Each expands understanding, with basic research focused on universal knowledge and applied on specialized insights.

Hypothesis testing – Each tests hypotheses and validates theories through observation and experimentation.

Research processes – Both can incorporate similar techniques like surveys, interviews, statistical analysis, modeling, and more.

Research ethics – Strict standards for integrity, transparency, objectivity, and rigor govern both approaches.

Interdependence – Applied research frequently depends on basic research to provide a knowledge foundation.

Examples of Basic and Applied Research

Some examples help illustrate the different research approaches:

Basic Research

• Investigating photosynthesis mechanisms in plants
• Studying the communicative functions of various vocalizations in mammals
• Analyzing the chemical composition and ages of moon rocks
• Modeling the forces inside black holes
• Exploring the grammar of ancient languages

Applied Research

• Developing more effective treatments for diabetes
• Designing stable materials for nuclear fusion reactors
• Testing crop irrigation techniques to improve agricultural productivity
• Assessing strategies to reduce homelessness in urban areas
• Creating machine learning algorithms that can detect credit card fraud

When to Use Each Type of Research

So when should you opt for basic versus applied research?

Basic research tends to work best when:

• Your goals involve understanding fundamental phenomena
• You want to test or build theories
• Commercial outcomes aren’t a priority
• Flexible timelines and budgets are possible
• Broad, universal knowledge is needed before solutions

Applied research excels when:

• You need to solve a practical real-world problem
• Specific answers and actionable solutions are required
• You have defined project constraints and outcomes
• Commercial potential and profitability are considerations
• Specialized, narrow insights will address an issue

The Value of Basic and Applied Research

Basic and applied research both further human knowledge and have intrinsic value.

Basic research enriches scientific understanding of the world around us and within us, satisfying our innate curiosity. It provides an essential knowledge base for future advances.

Applied research harnesses science to enhance lives and society, improving conditions, creating opportunities, and solving tangible problems. It translates theories into impact.

Far from mutually exclusive, basic and applied research can intertwine. Basic research revelations become the raw material for applied research innovations down the road. And applied initiatives can uncover new questions, sparking basic research to investigate.

Tips for Conducting Quality Research

Follow these tips when planning either basic or applied research:

• Develop a clear research question or problem statement
• Review existing literature to avoid duplicating efforts
• Determine appropriate methods and analytical techniques
• Follow rigorous protocols for data collection and analysis
• Validate results through repeat trials and peer review
• Choose transparent, ethical practices at every step
• Effectively communicate findings to spread knowledge

While basic research expands understanding of the world for its own sake, applied research leverages knowledge to solve real issues. Both play major yet distinct roles in the research ecosystem. Understanding their different aims, methods, and outcomes helps inform when to pursue basic versus applied research. With a thoughtful approach, both research forms can make tremendous contributions through revealing universal truths or inciting impactful change.

Examples of applied research

Examples of applied research include:

• Identifying new products to help aging seniors stay safe at home
• Looking at ways to treat a medical condition safely
• Determining how to make products last longer
• Examining the best ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes
• Understanding how to engage teens in math classes
• How to market a product to Gen Z
• Understanding how businesses could help reduce their impact on climate change

Where is basic research used?

You use basic research methods every day, whenever you are trying to learn more about something. You might do basic research when learning how to use a new kitchen gadget or seeking information about how caffeine affects you after 3PM. You are even doing basic research on basic research by reading this article, as you are building your knowledge of this topic.

Research Methods – Chapter 02 – Applied vs. Basic Research

What is the difference between basic and applied research?

Basic research is generally conducted to learn more about a specific subject. It is usually self-initiated to gain knowledge to satisfy curiosity or confirm a theory. Conversely, 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.

What is the difference between applied research and research?

It is driven by a researcher’s curiosity and the aspiration to expand the frontiers of understanding. The primary goal isn’t to solve an immediate problem but to garner knowledge for the sake of understanding. On the other hand, applied research focuses on analysis intended to solve practical problems.

How does applied research work?

Applied research takes the data obtained in basic research and applies it to answer a question and provide a possible solution. There are three types of applied research: Applied research often hinges on data collected during basic research. For example, you might gather data on how customers move through the sales funnel.

What is the interplay between basic and applied research methods?

The world of research is enriched by the interplay between basic and applied research methods. Whether theoretical or practical, long-term or immediate, both contribute significantly to our understanding and make up the vibrant tapestry of research that seeks to answer questions, solve problems, and improve our lives.

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Writing with artificial intelligence, applied research, basic research.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - Professor of English - USF

Understand the difference between Applied Research and Basic Research .

Table of Contents

Research efforts are sometimes categorized by the aim or motivation of the investigator. In the U.S., funding agencies such as NIH and NSF distinguish between applied research and basic ( aka fundamental or pure) research in their RFPs, Request for Proposals:

Key Terms: Aims of Research; Types of Research

It is commonplace to sort research by its purpose or aim. The two dominant aims of research are Applied Research and Basic Research .

Applied Research

Applied research is the work that gets done to solve workplace, educational, personal, and social problems. Investigators tackle these types of projects to make the world a better place. Researchers use this method to analyze obstacles, solve problems and create commercial opportunities.

For instance, in Writing Studies, an applied research project could investigate whether training in style and grammar improves student writing.

Basic Research

Basic research is driven by curiosity about how some aspect of the world works.

This type of research is not conducted to solve specific problems for specific communities nor is it conducted to develop specific applications. Rather, the goal of basic research is to contribute to knowledge–i.e., what discourse communities/communities believe to be true.

Basic Research Often Informs Applied Research

People cannot foresee the future well enough to predict what’s going to develop from basic research. If we only did applied research, we would still be making better spears. George Smoot, qtd in Mullane, 2006, p. 5

Research practices are iterative. As researchers engage in composing and ongoing dialectic , thanks to the iterative nature of research, basic research may inform applied research and result unexpected commercial applications. For example, the following basic research led to applications–i.e., Applied Research.

• Discovery of x-rays which led to studying bone fractures
• Discovery of chlorpromazine, a drug used in the treatment of  schizophrenia
• Discovery of dark adaptation which helped establish a theory of basic visual processes that led to applications in treating night blindness and reading x-rays
• Psychological studies of decision making that led to important findings in the fields of education, medicine, and economics” ( Psych Central , Retrieved 3/15/20).

Examples of basic research in Writing Studies could include fundamental questions such as How does writing shape thinking? In terms of human development, when can students learn to adopt their messages for their audiences? What is the relationship between speech, thought and language?

Hale, Julie. (2018, July). Understanding Research Methodology 5: Applied and Basic Research. Psych Central. 

Mullane, L. (2006, September/October). Beyond basic: Applied research brings real-world solutions to real-world problems. Public Purpose, 2-5.

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25 Basic Research Examples

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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Basic research is research that focuses on expanding human knowledge, without obvious practical applications.

For a scholarly definition, we can turn to Grimsgaard (2023):

“Basic research, also called pure, theoretical or fundamental research, tends to focus more on ‘big picture’ topics, such as increasing the scientific knowledge base around a particular topic.”

It is contrasted with applied research , which “seeks to solve real world problems” (Lehmann, 2023).

Generally, basis research has no clear economic or market value, meaning it tends to take place in universities rather than private organizations. Nevertheless, this blue-skies basic research can lead to enormous technological breakthroughs that forms the foundation for future applied research .

Basic Research Examples

• Physics: Understanding the properties of neutrinos.
• Medicine: Investigating the role of gut microbiota in mental health.
• Anthropology: Studying the social structures of ancient civilizations.
• Biology: Exploring the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
• Psychology: Understanding the cognitive development in infants.
• Chemistry: Researching new catalytic processes for organic synthesis.
• Astronomy: Investigating the life cycle of stars.
• Sociology: Exploring the impacts of social media on society.
• Ecology: Studying the biodiversity in rainforests.
• Computer Science: Developing new algorithms for machine learning.
• Mathematics: Exploring new approaches to number theory.
• Economics: Investigating the causes and effects of inflation.
• Linguistics: Researching the evolution of languages over time.
• Political Science: Studying the effects of political campaigns on voter behavior.
• Geology: Investigating the formation of mountain ranges.
• Architecture: Studying ancient building techniques and materials.
• Education: Researching the impact of remote learning on academic performance.
• History: Investigating trade routes in the medieval period.
• Literature: Analyzing symbolism in 19th-century novels.
• Philosophy: Exploring concepts of justice in different cultures.
• Environmental Science: Studying the impact of plastics on marine life.
• Genetics: Investigating the role of specific genes in aging.
• Engineering: Researching materials for improving battery technology.
• Art History: Investigating the influence of politics on Renaissance art.
• Agricultural Science: Studying the impact of pest management practices on crop yield.

Case Studies

1. understanding the structure of the atom.

The study of atomic structure began in the early 1800s, with John Dalton’s atomic theory suggesting that atoms were indivisible and indestructible. However, it was not until the 20th century that Ernest Rutherford’s gold foil experiment led to the discovery of the nucleus and the proposal of the planetary model of the atom, which was further refined by Niels Bohr and eventually led to the quantum mechanical model, showing that electrons move in orbital shells around the nucleus.

Research Context:

• Topic: Investigating the structure and behavior of atoms.
• Purpose: Understand the fundamental particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) and forces that govern atomic behavior.
• Methodology: Utilize particle accelerators, theoretical models, and experimental physics.
• Significance: Fundamental understanding of atomic structures has paved the way for numerous technological and scientific breakthroughs, such as the development of nuclear energy and advancements in chemistry and materials science.

Outcomes and Further Developments:

• Discovery and exploration of subatomic particles like quarks.
• Development of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.
• Subsequent advancements in various scientific fields, such as nuclear physics, chemistry, and nanotechnology.

2. Researching the Human Genome

The Human Genome Project, an international research effort that began in 1990, aimed to sequence and map all of the genes – collectively known as the genome – of humans. Completed in 2003, it represented a monumental achievement in science, providing researchers with powerful tools to understand the genetic factors in human disease, paving the way for new strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

• Topic: Investigating the structure, function, and mapping of the human genome.
• Purpose: Understand the genetic makeup of humans, identify genes, and learn how they work.
• Methodology: Techniques like DNA sequencing, genetic mapping, and computational biology.
• Significance: Foundational for various advancements in genetics, medicine, and biology, providing insights into diseases, development, and evolution.
• Completion of the Human Genome Project, which mapped the entire human genome.
• Advancements in personalized medicine, genetic testing, and gene therapy.
• Development of CRISPR technology, enabling precise genetic editing.

Basic Research vs Applied Research

Basic research focuses on expanding knowledge and understanding fundamental concepts without immediate practical application, while applied research focuses on solving specific, practical problems using the knowledge gained from basic research (Akcigit, Hanley & Serrano-Velarde, 2021).

A simple comparison of definitions is below:

• Basic research seeks to gain greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena.
• Applied research seeks to solve practical problems the researcher or their stakeholders are facing.

A researcher might choose basic research over applied if their primary motivation is to expand the boundaries of human knowledge and contribute to academic theories, whilst they might favor applied research if they are more interested in achieving immediate solutions, innovations, or enhancements impacting real-world scenarios (Akcigit, Hanley & Serrano-Velarde, 2021; Baetu, 2016).

To learn more about applied research, check out my article on applied research.

Basic Research: Disappearing in 21st Century Universities?

In the 1980s, universities increasingly came under pressure to prove their specific financial value to society. This has only intensified over the decades. So, whereas once universities were preoccupied with basic research, there’s been a big push toward academic-industry collaborations where research demonstrates its economic value, rather than its cultural or intellectual value, to society. This may, on the one hand, help make universities relevant to today’s world. But on the other hand, it may interfere with the blue skies research that could identify and solve the bigger, less financially pressing, questions and problems of our ages (Bentley, Gulbrandsen & Kyvik, 2015).

Pros and Cons of Basic Research

The primary advantage of basic research is that it generates knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles that can later serve as a foundation for technological advancement or social betterment.

It can lead to groundbreaking discoveries, stimulate creativity, and drive scientific innovation by satisfying human curiosity (Akcigit, Hanley & Serrano-Velarde, 2021; Baetu, 2016).

It is also often the catalyst for training the next generation of scientists and researchers.

However, basic research can be time-consuming, expensive, and its outcomes may not always be directly observable or immediately beneficial.

This is why it’s often left to government-funded research institutes and universities to conduct this sort of research. As Binswanger (2014) argues, “basic research constitutes, for the most part, a common good which cannot be sold profitably on markets.

Furthermore, its value is often underestimated because the applications are not immediately apparent or tangible.

Below is a summary of some advantages and disadvantages of basic research:

Abeysekera, A. (2019). Basic research and applied research.  Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka ,  47 (3).

Akcigit, U., Hanley, D., & Serrano-Velarde, N. (2021). Back to basics: Basic research spillovers, innovation policy, and growth.  The Review of Economic Studies ,  88 (1), 1-43.

Baetu, T. M. (2016). The ‘big picture’: the problem of extrapolation in basic research. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

Bentley, P. J., Gulbrandsen, M., & Kyvik, S. (2015). The relationship between basic and applied research in universities.  Higher Education ,  70 , 689-709. ( Source )

Binswanger, M. (2014). How nonsense became excellence: forcing professors to publish. In Welpe, I. M., Wollersheim, J., Osterloh, M., & Ringelhan, S. (Eds.), Incentives and Performance: Governance of Research Organizations . Springer International Publishing.

Grimsgaard, W. (2023). Design and strategy: a step by step guide . New York: Taylor & Francis.

Lehmann, W. (2023). Social Media Theory and Communications Practice . London: Taylor & Francis.

Wiid, J., & Diggines, C. (2009). Marketing Research . Juta.

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Basic Research in Psychology

Basic research—also known as fundamental or pure research—refers to study and research meant to increase our scientific knowledge base. This type of research is often purely theoretical, with the intent of increasing our understanding of certain phenomena or behavior. In contrast with applied research, basic research doesn't seek to solve or treat these problems.

Basic Research Examples

Basic research in psychology might explore:

• Whether stress levels influence how often students engage in academic cheating
• How caffeine consumption affects the brain
• Whether men or women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression
• How attachment styles among children of divorced parents compare to those raised by married parents

In all of these examples, the goal is merely to increase knowledge on a topic, not to come up with a practical solution to a problem.

The Link Between Basic and Applied Research

As Stanovich (2007) noted, many practical solutions to real-world problems have emerged directly from basic research. For this reason, the distinction between basic research and applied research is often simply a matter of time. As social psychologist Kurt Lewin once observed, "There is nothing so practical as a good theory."

For example, researchers might conduct basic research on how stress levels impact students academically, emotionally, and socially. The results of these theoretical explorations might lead to further studies designed to solve specific problems. Researchers might initially observe that students with high stress levels are more prone to dropping out of college before graduating. These first studies are examples of basic research designed to learn more about the topic.

As a result, scientists might then design research to determine what interventions might best lower these stress levels. Such studies would be examples of applied research. The purpose of applied research is specifically focused on solving a real problem that exists in the world. Thanks to the foundations established by basic research, psychologists can then design interventions that will help students effectively manage their stress levels , with the hopes of improving college retention rates.

Why Basic Research Is Important

The possible applications of basic research might not be obvious right away. During the earliest phases of basic research, scientists might not even be able to see how the information gleaned from theoretical research might ever apply to real-world problems. However, this foundational knowledge is essential. By learning as much as possible about a topic, researchers are able to gather what they need to know about an issue to fully understand the impact it may have.

"For example, early neuroscientists conducted basic research studies to understand how neurons function. The applications of this knowledge were not clear until much later when neuroscientists better understood how this neural functioning affected behavior," explained author Dawn M. McBride in her text The Process of Research in Psychology . "The understanding of the basic knowledge of neural functioning became useful in helping individuals with disorders long after this research had been completed."

Basic Research Methods

Basic research relies on many types of investigatory tools. These include observation, case studies, experiments, focus groups, surveys, interviews—anything that increases the scope of knowledge on the topic at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Psychologists interested in social behavior often undertake basic research. Social/community psychologists engaging in basic research are not trying to solve particular problems; rather, they want to learn more about why humans act the way they do.

Basic research is an effort to expand the scope of knowledge on a topic. Applied research uses such knowledge to solve specific problems.

An effective basic research problem statement outlines the importance of the topic; the study's significance and methods; what the research is investigating; how the results will be reported; and what the research will probably require.

Basic research might investigate, for example, the relationship between academic stress levels and cheating; how caffeine affects the brain; depression incidence in men vs. women; or attachment styles among children of divorced and married parents.

By learning as much as possible about a topic, researchers can come to fully understand the impact it may have. This knowledge can then become the basis of applied research to solve a particular problem within the topic area.

Stanovich KE.  How to Think Straight About Psychology . 8th edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Allyn and Bacon; 2007.

McCain KW. “Nothing as practical as a good theory” Does Lewin's Maxim still have salience in the applied social sciences? Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology . 2015;52(1):1-4. doi:10.1002/pra2.2015.145052010077

McBride DM. The Process of Research in Psychology . 3rd edition . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2015.

Committee on Department of Defense Basic Research. APPENDIX D: Definitions of basic, applied, and fundamental research . In: Assessment of Department of Defense Basic Research. Washington, D.C.: The National Academic Press; 2005.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• What is Applied Research? + [Types, Examples & Method]

Every research begins with a clear delineation of the purpose of the investigation as this goes a long way to determine the research process or methodology adopted. In this sense, a researcher may choose to carry out basic research or applied research. 

Applied research is set on providing answers to specific questions in a bid to provide a solution to a defined problem. In this article, we will outline the features of this method of systematic investigation as well as how it differs from other approaches to research. 

What is Applied Research?

Applied research is a type of research design that seeks to solve a specific problem or provide innovative solutions to issues affecting an individual, group or society. It is often referred to as a scientific method of inquiry or contractual research because it involves the practical application of scientific methods to everyday problems. 

When conducting applied research, the researcher takes extra care to identify a problem, develop a research hypothesis and goes ahead to test these hypotheses via an experiment. In many cases, this research approach employs empirical methods in order to solve practical problems. 

Applied research is sometimes considered to be a non-systematic inquiry because  of its direct approach in  seeking a solution to a problem. It is typically a follow-up research design that further investigates the findings of pure or basic research in order to validate these findings and apply them to create innovative solutions.     

Types of Applied Research

There are 3 types of applied research. These are evaluation research, research and development, and action research.

• Evaluation Research

Evaluation research is a type of applied research that analyses existing information about a research subject to arrive at objective research outcomes or reach informed decisions. This type of applied research is mostly applied in business contexts, for example, an organisation may adopt evaluation research to determine how to cut down  overhead costs.

• Research and Development

Research and development is a type of applied research that is focused on developing new products and services based on the needs of target markets. It focuses on gathering information about marketing needs and finding ways to improve on an existing product or create new products that satisfy the identified needs.

• Action Research

Action research is a type of applied research that is set on providing practical solutions to specific business problems by pointing the business in the right directions. Typically, action research is a process of reflective inquiry that is limited to specific contexts and situational in nature.

Examples of Applied Research 

Applied research is relevant in different fields of study; especially science and social science-related fields. Examples of applied research can be seen in medicine, education, business, engineering, psychology and health, and these would be further explicated below. 

Applied Research Example in Business

Applied research is used in business to build knowledge and develop product solutions. It enables organisations to identify the peculiar needs of target markets and this would help them to create different business strategies that would allow them to satisfy these needs. 

In addition, conducting contractual research would help business owners to get insightful feedback on product gaps that may have, otherwise, been ignored. This is a great way to get first-hand information on target market reactions which can inform brand decisions. 

Applied research also helps employers of labour to identify and address the productivity needs of their workforce. For instance, an organization may carry out applied research in order to measure the effectiveness of its recruitment practices or of its organisational structure. 

• Applied research to improve an organization’s hiring process.
• Applied research to improve workplace efficiency and organizational policies.
• Applied research to bridge skill gaps in the workplace.

Applied Research Examples in Education  

In education, applied research is used to test pedagogic processes in order to discover the best teaching and learning methods. It is also used to test educational policies before implementation and to address different issues associated with teaching paradigms and classroom dynamics for a better learning experience. 

Educational applied research attempts solving a problem by gathering data from primary sources using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. This data serves as empirical evidence which is then subjected to rigorous analysis and description in order to arrive at valid conclusions.

The goal of this research methodology is to determine the applicability of educational theory and principles by way of subjecting hypotheses to experimentation within specific settings. Applied research in education is also more utilitarian as it gathers practical evidence that can inform pragmatic solutions to problems. 

Characteristics of Applied Research in Education 

• It clearly highlights generalizations and hypotheses that inform the research findings.
• It relies on empirical evidence.
• It is set at providing solutions to a defined problem.
• It requires accurate observation and description.
• A study into the way to improve teacher-learner classroom engagements.
• A study into the way to improve a school’s readiness for its students.
• A study to build students’ interests in Mathematics.

Applied Research Example in Science

In itself, applied research is a scientific method of investigation because it applies existing scientific knowledge to practical situations. It is useful in different fields including thermodynamics, physics, material sciences and microbiology. 

Examples of applied research in science include the following: 

• Applied research to improve agricultural crop production
• Applied research to treat or cure a specific disease.

Applied Research Examples in Psychology  

There are different reasons psychologists would make use of applied research in the course of their work. In many cases, industrial-psychologists concerned with workplace behavior, human resources and organisational development combine psychological principles with applied research to proffer solutions. 

Examples of applied research in psychology include:

• Applied research to improve workplace commitment by arriving at practical worker-motivation strategies.
• Investigating treatment and management options for anxiety and panic attacks.
• Investigating factors that improve worker’s productivity.

Applied Research Example in Health   

In health and medical sciences, applied research serves as the background to evidence-based and solution-oriented medicine. It effectively merges scientific knowledge and methods with health experiences in order to arrive at accurate and verifiable results; using empirical research data or evidence. 

The adaptation of applied research to medicine is referred to as applied clinical research . Many health and medical practitioners use applied research to measure the extent to which the findings of basic or pure research can be adopted or modified into a solution-oriented approach.

Examples of applied research in health include:

• An investigation to identify the healing properties of a specific herb.
• An investigation to identify the side effects of using a particular drug.

APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS

Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods are used in applied research to gather empirical evidence that is further subjected to experimentation in order to arrive at valid research outcomes. The following are data collection methods in applied research:

An interview is a qualitative method of data collection that involves having a one-on-one interaction or discussion with the research subjects in order to gather relevant information that can serve as empirical data. It can be conducted with the use of an audio recorder, digital camera or camcorder.

Even though it is time-consuming and expensive, interviews allow the researcher to gather the most relevant data which gives him or her in-depth knowledge about the research subjects. An interview may be structured, semi-structured or unstructured; depending on the research purpose. 

• Surveys/Questionnaires

A questionnaire is an instrument that is typically used for quantitative data gathering . It outlines a series of questions relating to the research context and requires the research subjects to choose or provide responses that reflect their knowledge and experiences.

There are different types of questions that can be contained in a questionnaire including rating scale question s, close and open-ended questions and fixed alternatives. You can create and administer your applied research survey using data-collection platforms like Formplus . 

You can also start choosing from our over 200 online survey/questionnaire templates.

Here is a step-by-step guide on  how to create and administer questionnaires for applied research using Formplus

Sign in to Formplus

In the Formplus builder, you can easily create different questionnaires for applied research by dragging and dropping preferred fields into your form. To access the Formplus builder, you will need to create an account on Formplus. 

Once you do this, sign in to your account and click on “Create Form ” to begin.

Edit Form Title

Click on the field provided to input your form title, for example, “Applied Research Questionnaire”.

Click on the edit button to edit the form.

i. Add Fields: Drag and drop preferred form fields into your form in the Formplus builder inputs column. There are several field input options for questionnaires in the Formplus builder. 

ii. Edit fields

iii. Click on “Save”

iv. Preview form. 

Form Customization

With the form customization options in the form builder, you can easily improve on the appearance of your questionnaire and make it more unique and personalized. Formplus allows you to change your form theme, add background images and even change the font according to your needs. 

Multiple Sharing Options

Formplus also provides multiple form sharing options which enables you to easily share your questionnaire with respondents. With the direct social media sharing buttons, you can swiftly share your applied research questionnaire link to your organization’s social media pages. 

You can send out your questionnaire as email invitations to your research subjects too. Formplus also allows you to share your form’s QR code or embed it in your organization’s website for easy access. 

• Data Reporting

The process of gathering useful information about a research subject which can be used for further research. This can be done through not-for-profit reports, newspapers, website articles and hospital records.

It helps you  gather relevant data that results in more insightful decisions.  However, it is susceptible to bias because the information can easily be exaggerated by the individual or group collecting the data. 

• Observation

A type of data gathering method in applied research that requires the researcher to pay close attention to a subject (s) in order to gather useful information about it. Although bias may arise with this method, observation is widely considered as a universally accepted research practice.

Observation helps the researcher to gather empirical data and thus, it is the starting point for the formulation of a hypothesis. There are different techniques for observation including complete observer, complete participant, participant as observer and observer as participant. 

• Focus Groups

A focus group is a type of qualitative data collection process that allows the researcher to gather information about the disposition, feelings and opinions of the research subjects about a specific issue.

Here, the researcher engages a group comprising 6-10 individuals with a range of open-ended questions with the aim of gathering feedback about their emotional disposition to the issue at hand. This method is cost-effective compared to one-on-one interviews, and the information obtained is insightful and detailed. 

How is Applied Research Different from Basic Research?

Applied research and basic research are common methods of inquiry, based on purpose or utility. However, there are key differences between these 2 research approaches and these would be clearly outlined below: 

Applied research is a type of research that is aimed at the practical application of science in order to solve practical problems. On the other hand, basic research is a type of research that is aimed at expanding knowledge rather than solving problems. 

Basic research is theoretical in nature while applied research is practical and descriptive in nature. Basic research explores and generates theories that may be abstract while applied research tests these theories in order to solve a problem. 

Basic research is universal while applied research is limited. Basic research can focus on diverse or multiple contexts while applied research focuses on specific contexts with the aim of providing a solution to an identified problem. 

Applied research is focused on providing answers or solutions to a specific research question while basic research focuses on multiple concepts at the same time in its quest to expand knowledge. 

• Applied research pays attention to external validity while basic research is more focused on internal validity .

Characteristics of Applied Research 

• Applied research is solution-specific and it addresses practical problems. Unlike basic research that is aimed at theorizing and expanding knowledge, applied research focuses on addressing a particular problem using a range of science-based approaches.
• Applied research is descriptive in nature as it arrives at solutions by experimenting on empirical evidence and describing research outcomes.
• Usually, applied research tests theories arrived at by pure research in order to determine the usefulness of these theories in solving practical problems.
• It describes the relationship between research variables by measuring the characteristics of dependent and independent variables.
• Applied research relies on empirical evidence in order to arrive at valid research outcomes.
• It is not theoretical and it is not directly concerned with the expansion of knowledge.
• Applied research is synthetic in nature.
• It is aimed at the cost-effective reduction of social problems.
• Applied research is action-oriented.

Advantages of Applied Research

• Validity: Applied research is unbiased in nature because it tests empirical evidence in order to arrive at valid research outcomes. It employs carefully mapped-out procedures, and this makes it a more valid research approach.
• It is useful in solving specific problems. It helps individuals and organizations to find solutions to specific problems.

Disadvantages of Applied Research 

• It is not flexible in nature as it is restricted to a stipulated deadline.
• Applied research is limited in nature and it cannot be generalized. In other words, the findings from applied research cannot be generalized.

Conclusion 

Applied research is an important research approach because it helps organisations to arrive at practical solutions to specific problems while improving their productivity and output. Unlike basic research that focuses on generating theories that explain phenomena, applied research pays attention to describing empirical evidence with the aim of providing solutions. 

In carrying out applied research, the researcher combines a number of qualitative and quantitative data-gathering methods including questionnaires, observation methods, and interviews. This helps the researcher to gather empirical evidence that is then subjected to experimentation depending on the type of applied research and the overall focus. 

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Difference Between Basic Research and Applied Research

• Categorized under Planning & Activities , Psychology , Science | Difference Between Basic Research and Applied Research

Research is commonly defined as a systematic investigation with the intent to verify facts and generate updated conclusions.  Regarding its utility, research is divided into two: basic and applied. Many researchers suggest that these are closely working with each other as basic research is a platform which applied research often uses to solve real life problems. Also, basic research employs technology (which was developed by applied research) to address its objectives. Thus, these inquiries form a cycle of advancement.

Generally, applied research deals with particular topics which have direct practical relevance. On the contrary, basic research is mainly motivated by the expansion of knowledge and seek to answer questions that are not related to direct applications. The following concepts delve into such distinctions.

What is Basic Research?

Basic research is also known as fundamental or pure research since it is mainly concerned with the improvement of scientific knowledge.  The purpose of basic research is simply to gather more information to further understand existing phenomena specially in the field of natural sciences. Its focus is on supporting as well as challenging assumptions which aim to explain various phenomena. Pure research looks at the “big picture” in the sense that it looks for overall factors and related postulates. Hence, fundamental research is purely theoretical as it delves into basic laws and principles.

Though the engendered ideas may not be directly applied to current situations, such conclusions from basic research are highly fundamental in enhancing future applied studies. For instance, previous studies on mathematical theories have been utilized in programming and other information technology processes.

What is Applied Research?

The purpose of applied research is to know more about a certain real-world problem and take steps to solve it. It focuses on the application of natural science principles on practical difficulties as well as enhancing innovations. Such studies are often associated with the fields of business, economics, health, and politics. For instance, a company may hire an applied researcher to look into the best way of hiring applicants and placing employees in connection with the organization’s various positions.

Many applied researchers utilize the naturalistic observation method to verify existing social difficulties and then conduct experiments to ascertain solutions. However, data gathering challenges such as ethics and validity issues may arise specially when testing procedures may pose harm for humans and animals. Thus, restrictions are applied in employing the respective study procedures.

Difference between Basic and Applied Research

Purpose of basic and applied research.

Basic research is meant to expand one’s current knowledge while applied research is aiming to solve particular life problems.

Basic research is more theoretical since it generally generates theories and explores information which may not be presently applied. It is also focused on improving current academic concepts. On the other hand, applied research is more practical and descriptive in nature as it seeks to alleviate current problems in various fields and is mostly concerned with end-usage.

The scope of basic research is often universal as it may bae applied to diverse concepts. However, applied research is largely particular as it is focused on very specific topics which seek to answer certain problems.

As compared to basic research, applied research is more often linked with the improvement of technology as it covers the direct application of knowledge.

While basic research aims to predict future phenomena, applied research seeks to prevent predicted problems or come with solutions for future challenges. The former deals with knowing what could happen while the latter goes beyond by coming up with probable actions.

Basic research is driven by curiosity while applied research is driven by clients as the former is conducted to understand fundamental concepts while the latter is done to help solve individuals’ or groups’ problems.

Commercial Objectives

As compared to basic research, applied research is closely associated with commercial processes since it aims to create relevant products and services.

As compared to basic research, applied research is more closely connected with the development of economy as numerous surveys, experiments, and case studies are conducted to verify the efficacy of products, market strategies, and other economically related procedures.

Academic Publications

As compared to applied research, basic researches more often appear in academic publications as they delve into generating new knowledge.

Environment

Basic research occurs in a sterile or highly-controlled environment such as laboratories. Conversely, applied research mainly takes place in real world settings where other unexpected variables may intervene.

Basic vs Applied Research: Comparison Chart

Summary of Basic and Applied Research

• As to purpose, research is generally divided into two: basic and applied.
• Basic research can provide valuable information that applied research can use.
• Such inquiries form a cycle of advancement.
• Basic research is also known as fundamental or pure research since it is mainly concerned with the improvement of scientific knowledge.
• The purpose of applied research is to know more about a certain real-world problem and take steps to solve it.
• Basic research is theoretical in nature while applied research is practical; hence, it is associated with technology.
• As compared to applied research, basic research has a wider scope.
• While basic research predicts future phenomena, applied research creates solutions or preventions for probable problems.
• Basic research is curiosity-driven while applied research is client-driven.
• As compared to basic research, applied research is more closely associated with economically related objectives.
• Basic research mostly appears in academic publications.
• While basic research takes place in a sterile environment, applied research is often conducted in messy real-world settings.
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Cite APA 7 Brown, g. (2018, May 22). Difference Between Basic Research and Applied Research. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-basic-research-and-applied-research/. MLA 8 Brown, gene. "Difference Between Basic Research and Applied Research." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 22 May, 2018, http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-basic-research-and-applied-research/.

information helped a great deal… thank you.

The Summary says: Basic research mostly appears in academic publications. The chart inverted the information.

Helps a lot….thnaks.

Dear Ms Gene Balinggan,

The article of yours has been of very much help. I hope this note of thanks motivates you to write more of such articles. Once again Thank You Very Much.

Best regards, Syed Mehdi

It’s very important web site and utilities

So helpful But why in the table you write that basic is less often apear in acadmic site? is that right?

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Basic Research: What it is with examples

In building knowledge, there are many stages and methodologies to generate insights that contribute to its understanding and advancement; basic research and applied research are usually the most effective on this path.

Understanding research allows us to understand all the properties of a specific science or phenomenon at a fundamental level. Some examples are branches such as sociology, humanities, and other scientific fields; below, we will tell you everything you need to know about this type of research and its possible applications.

What is Basic Research?

Basic Research is a type of research used in the scientific field to understand and extend our knowledge about a specific phenomenon or field. It is also accepted as pure investigation or fundamental research .

This type of research contributes to the intellectual body of knowledge. Basic research is concerned with the generalization of a theory in a branch of knowledge; its purpose is usually to generate data that confirm or refute the initial thesis of the study.

It can also be called foundational research; many things get built on this foundation, and more practical applications are made.

Basic Research vs. Applied Research

Basic Research finds its counterpart and complement in applied research. They are two handy research methods when generating and giving a utility to the generated data. There are very marked differences, and understanding them will allow you to understand the path followed to create new knowledge.

The most important difference between basic research and applied research lies in the objective of each. It seeks to expand the information and understanding of the object of study, while applied research aims to provide a solution to the problem studied.

The relationship between these two types of research is usually very close since the methodologies used are often quite similar; the significant change is found in the initial and final point of the investigation.

Basic Research Examples

There can be many examples of basic research; here are some of them:

• A study of how stress affects labor productivity.
• Studying the best factors of pricing strategies.
• Understand the client’s level of satisfaction before certain interactions with the company providing solutions.
• The understanding of the leadership style of a particular company.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Basic research is critical for expanding the pool of knowledge in any discipline. The introductory course usually does not have a strict period, and the researcher’s concern commonly guides them. The conclusion of the fundamental course is generally applicable in a wide range of cases and plots.

At the same time, the basic study has disadvantages as well. The findings of this type of study have limited or no constructive conclusions. In another sense, fundamental studies do not resolve complex and definite business problems, but it does help you understand them better.

Taking actions and decisions based on the results of this type of research will increase the impact these insights may have on the problem studied if that is the purpose.

LEARN ABOUT: Theoretical Research

How to do basic research?

This process follows the same steps as a standard research methodology. The most crucial point is to define a thesis or theory that involves a perfectly defined case study; this can be a phenomenon or a research problem observed in a particular place.

There are many types of research, such as longitudinal studies , observational research , and exploratory studies. So the first thing you should do is determine if you can obtain the desired result with research or if it is better to opt for another type of research.

Once you have determined your research methodology, the data collection process begins, also depending on your type of study; sometimes, you can collect the data passively through observation or experimentation. On other occasions, intervene directly and collect quantitative information with tools such as surveys.

Platforms like QuestionPro will help you have a wide range of functions and tools to carry out your research; its survey software has helped students and professionals obtain all the information necessary to generate high-value insights.

In addition, it has a data analysis suite with which you can analyze all this information using all kinds of reports for a more straightforward interpretation of the final results.

QuestionPro is much more than survey software ; we have a solution for each specific problem and industry. We also offer data management platforms such as our research data repository called Insights Hub.

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• Published: 31 August 2024

Mobile solution and chronic diseases: development and implementation of a mobile application and digital platform for collecting, analyzing data, monitoring and managing health care

• Emily de Souza Ferreira 1 ,
• Ary Henrique Morais de Oliveira 2 ,
• Mateus Araújo Dias 2 ,
• Glauce Dias da Costa 1 ,
• José Pedro Toledo Januário 3 ,
• Glenda Michele Botelho 2 &
• Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta 1  

BMC Health Services Research volume  24 , Article number:  1009 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Technological advances based on mobile health (mHealth), the field of digital health (eHealth) aimed at managing health services and care and their concomitant transformations, have become increasingly important in the 21st century. In this context, care for individuals diagnosed with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs) deserves to be highlighted. The aim of this study is to present the creation, development and implementation of the Telehealth Center of the Federal University of Viçosa (NUTELES - UFV), for the monitoring and management of health care for individuals with Arterial Hypertension (AH) and/or Diabetes Mellitus (DM).

This study, carried out in 2022 and 2023, involved 374 patients diagnosed with AH and/or DM in the health micro-region of Viçosa/MG, Brazil, comprising nine municipalities. The research aims to describe the creation, development and implementation of a software (NutelesApp) for the collection, storage, management and analysis of epidemiological research in public health, focusing specifically, on the monitoring and management of health care for individuals with AH and/or DM monitored by Primary Health Care (PHC). The parameters collected and analyzed were obtained through a questionnaire applied to patients, consisting of 70 questions, subdivided into 12 classes of questions. The epidemiological survey data was collected using mobile devices and analyzed using computer techniques based on statistical analysis. Once the field teams had completed their work, the files were transferred to servers for general analysis processing, using estimates of means, prevalence and respective standard errors, calculated using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program, which takes into account the planning variables and includes the basic weights resulting from the sampling process. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee and registered, prior to recruitment, by the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), ID: RBR-45hqzmf (Last approval date: 11/30/2022).

The information obtained through data collection with subsequent exploratory analysis of epidemiological data using the NutelesApp software suggests that mobile applications intended for the purpose of monitoring and managing healthcare for people with AH and/or DM should address the variables necessary to support a process of understanding the health conditions and/or disease of the individual as a whole and provide short- and long-term learning. Regarding the results of the survey using the software, the variables of 374 people were analyzed. Majority are female (73.2%) and white (43.5%). Most patients are elderly (average 64 years), with blood pressure levels within the normal range for this population, BMI indicates overweight, AC increased risk for cardiovascular events and CC within the recommendation value. All biochemical parameters analyzed were above normal limits.

Conclusions

The description of the creation and development of the software includes practical examples of its implementation, the results collected and its applicability in real scenarios, presenting determining criteria that can provide assertive and timely interventions for monitoring and managing the health and/or disease parameters of patients with HA and/or DM. In addition, the beneficial consequences of using this application will extend to health units and their respective management, improving the services provided by PHC and enhancing strategies and actions for health promotion and disease prevention.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a global public health problem and are the main causes of mortality in the world [ 1 , 2 ]. These include Arterial Hypertension (AH), which currently affects approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide, and Diabetes Mellitus (DM), which is estimated to increase from 537 million (in 2021) to 578 to 700 million between 2030 and 2045 [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the world’s elderly population will double from 12 to 22% by 2050 [ 6 ]. In Brazil, the latest census carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics in 2022 showed that the total number of people aged 65 or over in the country increased by 57.4% compared to 2010 [ 7 ]. Population ageing increases the risk of many chronic diseases, so monitoring and managing them is of paramount importance and represents a major challenge for public health worldwide [ 8 ].

It is known that both AH and DM are multifactorial diseases, many of which are modifiable, such as sedentary lifestyles, smoking, poor diet and behavioral influences such as non-adherence to drug treatment [ 5 , 9 ]. To this end, some innovative, cost-effective and sustainable approaches, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been employed to reduce the negative influences on patients’ health conditions and/or diseases and improve the management of their healthcare [ 10 , 11 ].

In this sense, the WHO [ 12 ] advocates that Primary Health Care (PHC) should be placed at the center of efforts to improve the well-being of the population. This is because a strong and well-structured PHC reduces total health expenditure and is essential to achieve the SDGs related to universal health coverage. Therefore, in the same year, a project was proposed in Brazil that aims to identify innovative strategies to address the obstacles related to PHC, so that the country can achieve the SDG targets and strengthen health actions for people affected by NCDs [ 13 ]. One of the main conclusions of this proposal involved promoting the use of technologies oriented towards health promotion and prevention of diseases and illnesses through the use of Innovation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) [ 12 ]. With this, it is concluded that Brazil is on the right path to managing the chronic diseases that affect it, however, it is necessary to innovate its health practices to be in line with the goals proposed by the WHO and increasingly benefit the health services provided and, mainly, the health and well-being of the population.

In this scenario, technological advances based on mobile health (mHealth), the field of digital health (eHealth) with a focus on the management of health services and care and its concomitant transformations, have become increasingly important in the 21st century and received great encouragement from the WHO [ 11 , 14 ]. eHealth can be used for many purposes and presents consistent results in studies already carried out, such as reducing the incidence of chronic diseases, increasing adherence to treatment, adequate screening and long-term and remote follow-up measures, through the implementation of adequate preventive and educational actions [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].

An important issue to be considered is the target audience for the technological applications that are created. As already mentioned, the elderly population is increasing exponentially [ 6 , 7 ]. Linked to this, the risk of developing and complications of chronic diseases increases with aging. Although there is concern about the capacity and preference for using health technologies by the elderly, evidence shows that they have good interaction with educational environments developed within the mobile application with information and guidance on the disease, which allows self-monitoring and management of their own health conditions [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. A systematic review with meta-analysis focused on the use of mobile applications as a digital intervention for adults and the elderly, found that there was an improvement in the monitoring of these patients, with the intervention group, that is, those who used mobile health applications, having a reduction of 0.39% (CI 0.24–0.54) in the value of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared to the usual care group [ 22 ]. This evidence reinforces not only that the elderly can use this type of innovation, but also that it is possible to use these types of technology for the benefit of the population without harming their health and/or disease indicators.

It is also worth noting that this technological innovation in the health area does not replace the specialized workforce. However, there is evidence that digital health has advanced significantly and presents better results when compared to the approach traditionally used in health services [ 22 , 23 ]. Therefore, these technological alternatives must be better studied, developed and implemented.

As demonstrated, although mHealth has made great progress, especially in recent years, more research on the creation, implementation and evaluation of mobile applications is needed to fill existing gaps, such as the implementation of mHealth in low- and middle-income countries; technologies with interfaces that allow continuous monitoring of data received in a systematic way; and educational programs to raise patients’ awareness of the applications of digital health technology [ 24 , 25 ].

We are aware of the existence of various software, programs and other innovative proposals with different objectives and aimed at different audiences. However, it is always necessary to consider the peculiarities of each population and their respective comorbidities. Therefore, research in this field must propose the development of new software that is, in fact, effective and efficient for the audience and service for which it is intended. This is why our research group identified the need to develop a Telehealth Center aimed at adults and elderly people diagnosed with AH and/or DM, specifically focused on monitoring and managing the health care of this population.

The aim of this study is therefore to describe the development and present the implementation of a new health technology application, the Telehealth Center of the Federal University of Viçosa (NUTELES - UFV), a software program designed to monitor and manage the health care of adult and elderly individuals with AH and/or DM assisted by Primary Health Care (PHC).

Materials and methods

In this section, we describe the methodology of the study, providing a theoretical basis and a description of the design and development of the technological application we developed, NUTELES-UFV, which comprises a mobile application (NutelesApp) and a digital platform (NutelesWeb).

The actions were carried out based on the targets set by the United Nations (UN) SDGs, especially those related to SDG 3, which includes ensuring a healthy life and well-being for all, and SDG 17, which aims to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalization of the global partnership for sustainable development.

Ethical considerations

This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), under opinion No. 4.475.901 and registered, prior to recruitment, by the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), ID: RBR-45hqzmf (Last approval date: 11/30/2022). In accordance with Resolution No. 466/2012 of the National Health Council, which regulates research involving human beings, individuals were asked to sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF) in order to take part in the study, guaranteeing the confidentiality of the information and their anonymity.

Recruiting participants

A total of 374 adult and elderly participants were recruited from nine municipalities in the health micro-region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is part of the Zona da Mata region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In total, participants were recruited from 19 health units in the aforementioned micro-region.

In order to select the sample, the following inclusion criteria were considered: age over 18 years old; being followed up by PHC units and with a confirmed diagnosis of AH and/or DM. Patients with serious clinical conditions requiring specialized care, pregnant women and individuals with a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse, bedridden people or those using wheelchairs were excluded from the study.

Data collection and tools

The definition of the parameters collected and analyzed was established through an extensive literature review and consultation with specialists in the field. As a result, we drew up a questionnaire (Supplementary file 1). That was applied to the patients, consisting of 70 questions, subdivided into 12 classes of questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral factors, clinical and physical assessment, health care, eating habits, level of physical activity [ 26 ] and laboratory tests. Table  1 shows the description of the questions in each class and their respective questions.

All these parameters were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire that was developed and pre-tested in a pilot study in a population and municipality with characteristics similar to those of the study in question, but which is not part of the sample studied.

In order to automate the process, data collection was carried out using a computer environment and application (NutelesApp) running on mobile electronic devices (Smartphones/Tablets/Computers), where the questionnaire was applied by previously trained and qualified researchers.

Intervention - NUTELES/UFV technological application

NUTELES-UFV, which includes NutelesWeb and NutelesApp, was created by researchers from the University Teaching Innovation Program (PRODUS), UFV’s Health Planning and Management Studies Laboratory (LabPlanGest) and UFT’s Database and Software Engineering Laboratory. The main objectives of the mobile application are to store sociodemographic and health data and information and to monitor modifiable parameters (behavioral factors, lifestyle habits, physical assessment, food consumption, laboratory tests) in the medium and long term. It also provides reliable information and guidance based on scientific evidence on NCDs, giving patients, families and professionals control over the content and access. In this way, care is integrated and health promotion and the prevention of illnesses and morbidities is provided and conducted in a viable and appropriate manner.

With this, NUTELES-UFV comprises a functional system that was presented to users in the early stages to obtain improvements, ideas and requirements for the final product, providing support for the needs and desires of users and health professionals, creating an environment conducive to behavioral changes and extracting the main aspects that the adults and elderly people in the study need and/or would like to have in a mobile application to support the treatment and monitoring of their comorbidity.

The NUTELES-UFV technological application includes: (1) architecture and computing environment, (2) data architecture, (3) functional and non-functional requirements of NUTELES-UFV, (4) navigation hierarchy and (5) interaction with the user through personal guidance and educational resources in the application.

Architecture of the NUTELES/UFV computing environment

The environment consists of a mobile application, developed for remote data collection in the field, and also a web-based information system for synchronizing and managing all the data collected in the field. The app and web application store the data collected in a centralized database. The management system can therefore be accessed via a web browser or via a mobile application initially available on Google Play. The architecture of the environment is shown in Fig.  1 .

Figure  1 shows the components (modules) that make up the NUTELES-UFV computer architecture. The NutelesApp consists of the mobile version of the application, used to collect epidemiological data in the field. The application has three main actors: the system administrator, the health professional and the public served. The system administrator is responsible for registering health professionals, who in turn are able to register patients in the system. They also have the ability to create new users and survey questionnaires. The health professional, on the other hand, has the specific ability to register an action to collect information on patients, with the latter user filling in the form with their health information.

Implementation design of the NUTELES computing environment. Source authors’ own creation

The application temporarily stores the data collected on the mobile device during field data collection activities and then synchronizes the collected field data with the application’s central server, thus keeping the information up to date. NutelesApp has five modules:

Registration module: comprises the collection of user data the first time the user accesses the system.

Authentication module: guarantees restricted access to information by registering the user in the system for the purposes of identification and profile association (health professional and/or patient).

Storage module: runs the routines for managing database transactions by controlling inserts, updates, deletes and queries in the database.

Survey form module: presents and collects data from the patient survey.

Visualization module: presents a mechanism for visualizing information.

The application requires an internet connection, since its database is in a remote repository. However, it has an access control mechanism to preserve access to the data collected and stored in the database. The application can be filled in by users and health professionals, who initially enter their personal details, such as their individual registration number, address, contact telephone number and which health unit they are linked to.

NUTELES data architecture

The main functions of the NutelesApp platform are health data collection, information analysis and visualization of patient data. The platform makes it possible to obtain more flexible data, as it allows healthcare professionals to be mobile when collecting it. In addition, the platform enables the application of inference mechanisms for various tasks such as classification, grouping and scenario prediction. Finally, it facilitates the presentation of information in graphs and visualization mechanisms. However, all these potentialities are made possible by the quality of the data stored in the database.

Figure  2 shows the general organization of the classes of information stored in the database. The attributes recorded in the database were defined based on this class of information represented by the fields provided in the electronic data collection forms inserted into the NutelesApp platform. A data dictionary was developed to facilitate the sharing of the data structures developed in this work.

Data structure for storing information collected via the NutelesApp mobile application from the NUTELES-UFV environment. Source authors’ own creation

All the structures are filled in during the data collection process to form the epidemiological survey database. The processing of exploratory analyses, inferences and other studies will be carried out according to the data presented in this diagram. The model’s starting point is the data structure of the strategy used to collect this data, which represents a broader set of activities in which health interventions and actions are carried out. These interventions are small training activities for users and professionals focused on health care, which together are incorporated into a larger strategy, which configures the long-term monitoring of patients.

For each intervention, it is necessary to register the patients and professionals who belong to the health units in each of the municipalities in the health micro-region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the research is being carried out. A characterization survey is carried out for each unit through meetings with the coordinators and managers. After this characterization, data on the patients and health professionals belonging to each of the units is recorded. It is important to note that the user’s identifying information is not stored in the database in order to guarantee anonymity.

The patient data structure is the starting point for the epidemiological survey data. From this it is possible to fill in the questionnaire using the structure of the form, and associate it with the other parameters to be collected.

Functional and non-functional requirements of NUTELES-UFV

The use case diagram graphically describes the functionalities of an application. It is a functional requirement gathering tool that models the expected behavior of the system in an interaction with the user. Figure  3 gives an overview of the use cases for the NUTELES-UFV application, showing each of the actors (stakeholders) interacting with the respective functionalities they have access to.

Use case diagram with the functional requirements for building the NUTELES-UFV computing environment. Source authors’ own creation

The diagram shows two main actors interacting with NUTELES-UFV through its functionalities (ellipses). The first actor, called a healthcare professional, is responsible for registering the patient’s identification and health information. Once the information has been registered, the results of the questionnaire can be printed, as described in the link < < extends > > with the analytical report. It is necessary for the health agent to fill in all the data on the clinical history, health analyses, sociodemographic data and information on COVID-19.

The second actor, called the patient, has access to the registration and health data collected by the healthcare professional, allowing them to be monitored. It should be noted that both actors must be authenticated in order to access the information recorded, both for reading and for recording information, the latter functionality being allowed only to the health professional.

Navigation hierarchy

The user interaction interfaces of the NutelesApp application are organized as shown in Fig.  4 . We will look at the access of a health professional so that they have an overview of the functionalities in the application. In this context, navigation begins with the application’s presentation screen, which gives the user two access options, either to register again or to authenticate. The user can authenticate after registering.

Once authenticated, the home will be displayed with access options for registering the patient, viewing the user’s profile and accessing the list of patients of that health professional user. Patient registration allows for the collection of registration data for the health professional responsible and the patient being assessed, information on the patient’s lifestyle and information on the clinical assessment carried out, providing important information for health monitoring.

Navigation hierarchy in the NutelesApp application. Source authors’ own creation

By filling in the information, it is possible to visualize the general picture of the patient’s lifestyle and clinical assessment in an efficient and convenient way. This information makes it possible to carry out important analyses and draw inferences by classifying patients into groups previously defined by studies, grouping them by characteristics identified from the information recorded or even creating mechanisms to predict scenarios for carrying out interventions, whether they are more preventive or even reactive given the scenario identified.

User interfaces

The application’s home screen displays the application’s initial information, including the logo and the login form. To gain access to the application’s features, the user must first register. The e-mail address and password that were previously registered are required for authentication and access to the application’s work area. After filling in these fields and clicking on the “Login” button, the user will be redirected to another screen.

Data analysis

The epidemiological survey data was collected using mobile devices and analyzed using computer techniques based on statistical analysis. Once the field teams had completed their work, the files were transferred to servers for general analysis processing, using estimates of means, prevalence and respective standard errors, calculated using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program, which takes into account the planning variables and includes the basic weights resulting from the sampling process.

Application results

The results are expressed in the mobile application for the collection and subsequent exploratory analysis of epidemiological data. The application adopts the Creative Commons Non-Commercial and Attribution License (BY-NC), allowing licensees to copy, distribute, display and perform the software, as well as develop derivative works from it, provided that licensees give credit to the authors and use applications for non-commercial purposes.

The information obtained through data collection with subsequent exploratory analysis of epidemiological data using the NutelesApp software suggests that mobile applications intended for the purpose of monitoring and managing health care for people with AH and/or DM should address the variables necessary to support a process of understanding the health conditions and/or disease of the individual as a whole and provide short- and long-term learning.

Furthermore, the description of the creation and development of the software includes practical examples of the results collected as well as their presentation in real scenarios. The digital application is both preventive and predictive, since it produces determining criteria for interventions aimed at monitoring the health parameters of individuals and, consequently, reducing the negative outcomes of the diseases studied and analyzing the needs for improving the services provided by PHC.

The following subsections present some of the functions and interfaces of mobile and web applications.

NutelesApp mobile application

Figure  5 shows that the registration screen contains mandatory fields for registering the user, such as: full name, individual registration, e-mail, telephone, address and password. Once these fields have been filled in, the user must click on the “Register” button. A dialog box will then appear informing the user that the registration has been successful, enabling them to use the application.

Once registered, the user simply has to follow the initial login steps to be directed to the application’s home screen. If the user is an administrator, they will have access to various features, including viewing and editing patient information, creating new patients and the profile screen with their personal information. By pressing the plus (+) button, the user will be redirected to the patient registration screen, which is divided into various registration topics including: Personal Identification and Sociodemographic Data, Clinical Assessment and Lifestyle Habits.

Use case diagram with the functional requirements for building the NUTELES-UFV computing environment

The initial part of the registration form contains general registration fields for identifying the patient’s location and contacts and the health unit in which they are located, allowing the identification of the health team and support from the geographical region. Figures  6 and 7 show the interface of the NutelesApp data collection mechanism, to be applied and filled in by researchers and/or health professionals.

The advantage of filling in the portal is that you can register directly in the NUTELES-UFV environment database, as all the information registered in the portal is stored directly in the database. In the case of the app, the information is registered on the mobile device for later transfer to the central database. The registration process becomes more efficient as the information registered will be duly stored electronically, in various information stores, in the local and central database and in backup systems, making it possible to efficiently retrieve information to carry out various processes. In addition, the information collected and recorded in databases allows for greater efficiency in processing analysis, which is important for carrying out statistics and decision-making.

General patient data collection and clinical assessment screens

Clinical assessment and lifestyle habits collection screens

Survey results

Data collection took place in two ways: (1) at the PHC health units in each of the nine municipalities in the Viçosa health microregion, Minas Gerais; (2) at the patients’ homes. When, for some reason, the patient did not attend the unit, the researchers went to their homes to collect the data. It is worth noting that the health units are located close to the patients’ homes.

In this first stage of data collection, the data were stored by researchers who were properly trained for this purpose. Later, in order to monitor the parameters that are subject to change, health professionals will be able to update them in the software, having been trained for this purpose. Patients will also be trained to make these updates when appropriate (especially those related to lifestyle habits). Those who have some limitation for this purpose will be advised by a family member/caregiver or another person who can help them.

It is worth noting that patients will only have access to data related to their own health, and it is impossible for any of them to have access to data other than their own. To do this, registration and login to the system are required.

The frequency analysis of the baseline data and the profile of the patients registered on the platform are shown in Table  2 . We have a total of 374 individuals and it can be seen that the majority are female (73.2%) and white (43.5%).

The average age was 64 years (± 11.67), the average SBP was 128 mmHg (± 19.40), the average DBP was 81 mmHg (± 15.90) and the average heart rate was 76.94 (± 34.19). With regard to anthropometric measurements, the average BMI was 29.84 mg/m² (± 16.04), AC was 94.66 cm (± 14.24) and CC was 35.52 cm (± 5.05).

These figures show that the average age of the people is elderly, with blood pressure levels within the normal range for this population, BMI indicates overweight, AC increased risk for cardiovascular events and CC within the recommendation value.

As for the biochemical parameters, we have an average fasting blood glucose of 164.64 mg/dl (± 78.63); glycated hemoglobin of 9.62 (± 17.86); creatinine of 2.16 (± 8.93); total cholesterol of 186.52 mg/dl (± 40.17); HDL of 51.69 mg/dl (± 16.68); triglycerides of 137.93 mg/dl (± 76.20).

Figures  8 and 9 generated by the NutelesApp show the results of the exploratory analysis obtained by processing the patient questionnaires. The first figure shows the report with the percentage of patient participation in the survey by municipality in the health micro-region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais and Fig.  9 exemplifies the percentage of comorbidities worked on in the study.

Graph showing the percentage of patients in each municipality in the Viçosa healthmicro-region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Source Authors’ own creation

Graph showing the percentage of patients diagnosed with AH, DM and both comorbidities. Source Authors’ own creation

Since this is a sample in which all participants already have a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension and/or DM, they are undergoing treatment to control the diseases and avoid negative outcomes. This treatment includes, among the modifiable factors that relate to lifestyle habits, drug treatment as well. However, although all patients have already been diagnosed with the diseases (AH and/or DM), not all of them undergo treatment in the appropriate way to control the comorbidity. This is why monitoring and managing the parameters that involve health care is so important, as this enables health professionals to identify where the treatment is failing and how to act in a way that does not harm the patient.

In the present study, we provide a description of the development and implementation of a digital health solution (NUTELES-UFV), based on mHealth (NutelesApp), for individuals with NCDs, with an emphasis on AH and/or DM. The results of this research suggest that guidance on health conditions and/or disease, as well as patient management, monitoring and self-monitoring, can be provided through an mHealth intervention.

The software developed for collecting, storing and analyzing data from epidemiological research in public health provides, among other benefits, the replacement of paper with electronic forms, which has, among other features, the ability to exempt the researcher and/or health professional from manually transferring the collected data to a computer, since this process is done in an automated way and provides less chance of data transfer errors, generating more reliable, fast and secure information. Kelly et al. (2018) [ 27 ], Bonner et al. (2018) [ 28 ] and Brown et al. (2024) [ 29 ] emphasize that many outpatient services have insufficient resources to provide contact with health professionals at the frequency and intensity necessary to generate sustained long-term behavior change. This scenario places the patient in a position where their needs are not met and care is not sustainable even in the short term, as services become fragmented. This is why advances in digital health provide better health interventions in a unified manner to treat NCDs at their most complex levels, which can be more effective and improve access to health services provided [ 29 ].

Given the range of applications and other digital health solutions, individuals may not know which one best applies to their reality or feel insecure about entering their health data. Therefore, our Telehealth Center advocates data privacy and single registration and login, which are some strategies that make users safer. A study carried out by Zhang et al. (2019) [ 30 ] identified that the main factors contributing to users not accepting mobile apps is precisely the fear of data privacy being exposed. Added to this is the possibility of an incorrect diagnosis being made (this happens when data is entered manually). These factors are directly related to the lack of intention to change behavior.

This choice of intervention by the patient is closely linked to engagement in its use, as highlighted by the findings of Brown et al. (2024) [ 29 ]. This finding is in line with the study by Clark et al. (2008) [ 31 ] and Delevry and Le (2019) [ 32 ], which address the direct effect of patient choice on health outcomes and the impact of this on behavioral changes, treatment adherence, self-monitoring and health management.

In fact, various digital solution methods/procedures have been developed over the last few decades with the aim of building technological tools that have been improving the performance of their users in the most diverse sectors of social life for the provision of effective and reliable health services and actions [ 11 , 15 , 16 ]. Added to this is the difficult epidemiological situation of COVID-19 and the emergency social distancing measures that have transformed health systems around the world. In addition, pandemics have triggered the widespread use of digital technologies among people who need constant monitoring of their health status [ 11 , 33 ]. Therefore, digital health offers some advantages associated with virtual communication, low costs for the patient, time savings and reduced risk of infections.

The use of technology, especially apps, is efficient, effective and considered successful for health care and assistance [ 22 ]. With regard to the treatment of chronic diseases and patient health education activities on disease monitoring, it reinforces adherence to treatment by facilitating the understanding of recommendations and being easily accessible [ 34 ].

Specifically in the treatment and monitoring of individuals with AH and/or DM, we highlight the findings of the systematic review with meta-analysis by Ferreira et al. (2023) [ 22 ], which showed the difference in treatment between people monitored traditionally and those monitored by mobile interventions in the improvement, management, self-monitoring, and monitoring of adult and elderly patients with hypertension and/or DM. The study by Faezi, Afshar, and Rahimi (2023) [ 35 ] aimed to identify the motivating and inhibiting factors that affect the use of health information technology in the treatment and management of AH. The findings indicate that paid applications and access to the internet and a smartphone are the main inhibiting factors, while the motivating factors address the greater frequency of patient monitoring, reduced treatment costs, and ease of data sharing. Similar inhibiting factors were found in the study by Van Den Heuvel et al. (2020) [ 36 ]. These studies address important aspects to be considered when thinking about what can improve patient adherence and use of technologies. These findings are in line with what is recommended by our Telehealth Center, where services will be offered free of charge with subsequent monitoring and management of health care for patients diagnosed with AH and/or DM.

Alessa, Hawley, and Witte (2021) [ 37 ] developed a study that aimed to identify the most appropriate AH application for the health system studied. They demonstrated that smartphone applications with comprehensive functionalities are potentially effective, and participants liked the reminder features for self-management activities the most. This was also the case for the Jeppesen and Ainsworth (2015) [ 38 ] study, which highlighted the importance of this strategy to maintain correct patient adherence. Reminders are advisable strategies, as they address the forgetfulness factor of patients, especially elderly patients. Faezi, Afshar, and Rahimi (2023) [ 35 ] advocate similar strategies when proposing the effect of cellphone intervention in reducing AH. No less important, Liu et al. (2023) [ 39 ] demonstrated that the mHealth application-based intervention potentially improved the health knowledge of patients diagnosed with AH and supported self-management with the adoption of healthier lifestyles, including medication adherence, low-salt diets and physical exercise, thus controlling blood pressure.

Similar results are found in the use of health technologies in the management of DM. A study by Baptista et al. (2020) [ 40 ] reported that patients felt motivated, comfortable, and confident using the mobile application. These results are in line with the findings of Faezi, Afshar, and Rahimi (2023) [ 35 ] when considering the motivating aspects that applications need to have to ensure successful adherence to them. Burda et al. (2022) [ 41 ] demonstrated that the usability of a DM-focused self-management mobile application was promising, as participants felt motivated, capable, and had improvements in glucose levels and overall metabolic stability consistent with the use of the application. Other studies and analyses support these findings, such as the one by Sun et al. (2019) [ 42 ] with diabetic, Chinese and elderly patients who received glucometers that transmit data and received guidance on medication, diet and exercise through mHealth. After the intervention, the patients saw their glycated hemoglobin levels decrease. Important findings by different authors also indicate that elderly patients with DM interact well in an educational environment developed within a mobile application [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].

Other strategies have been devised and modified to improve patient adherence, but despite the obvious benefits of mobile applications in healthcare, there are a number of challenges and concerns regarding efficacy, safety and ethical issues that must be taken into account when developing applications and, especially, when evaluating their usability indicators with users [ 48 ].

In summary, although digital health technologies are widely used with proven effectiveness, more initiatives are needed for the development and implementation of innovative tools in the health sector, given that, as shown in the characterization of our study, the main modifiable parameters for the population with AH and/or DM are those that are highest. In this context, mobile interventions represent a substantial gain in monitoring and managing the health care of these patients, allowing longitudinal follow-up by health professionals as well as the patients themselves. Certainly, precursor strategies for improving this situation will prevent undesirable outcomes from comorbidities and, above all, will provide a significant improvement in the quality of life of these people.

Limitations, strengths and future work

Limitations include the relatively small sample size, due to the fact that the field research was conducted over 6 to 12 weeks, requiring careful monitoring of each participant. Also due to technical restrictions, so far, our system only works for Android systems, which limits access to those with IOS. However, these issues are already being taken into account, since the sample is already being expanded and the software will soon be available for IOS as well. Another limitation of our study is the fact that continuous monitoring and management of patients’ health status requires time for repeated measurements to be collected, monitored, and analyzed for subsequent direct intervention with patients. Since this is a study describing the creation and development of software and the respective data collected and tabulated, our study presents only baseline data, making it impossible for us to perform continuous monitoring at this time. However, we emphasize that this monitoring is ongoing and will be portrayed in future studies by our research group.

One of the strengths of this work is the fact that, although there is currently free software that performs similar functions to NutelesApp, one of its main advantages is that it works as a tool that uses standardized forms, developed, tested and applied by Brazilian public health institutions, for which NutelesApp will be available free of charge. In addition, it is an application designed to collect data in the field, without necessarily needing to be connected to the World Wide Web (Internet), i.e. if it is impossible to connect to the Internet at the time of the approach to the patient, especially in more remote areas, the application temporarily stores the information collected in its own database for later transmission to a central database. This feature makes it possible to include remote and hard-to-reach areas, which are sometimes overlooked in location-based surveys.

Another strength of our software is the security of the data collected and stored. Through encryption, the data can only be recovered in full using a private access key, preventing data leaks in the event of an invasion of the security and privacy of the information.

Also noteworthy is the partnership between Brazilian public universities and the municipal and state health secretariats, which gives our mobile digital solution significant potential to impact the evaluation of health programs and policies at different levels of government. Equally important is the possibility of correlating the information obtained with the municipalities, states and health units where the research was carried out, with the possibility of expanding it to other regions of the country.

Further research needs to be carried out to refine and/or improve the performance of the system developed. As a planned expansion of our software, we would like to highlight the availability of more usable options for participants, such as options for viewing general guidance on their own state of health. However, there is already an option for patients to make suggestions for improving the application.

Also, as we saw in our study, data visualization is a key element in monitoring and self-monitoring technologies, as it allows us to learn and recognize trends, thus supporting behavioral change. With regard to monitoring technologies for the adult and elderly population, which represents the majority of our audience, data visualization is generally a resource used to represent goals and progress. However, there is a lack of guidelines on how to design specific visualizations for the elderly. In our study, we used a simple visualization.

Our main objective was to provide details of the development and implementation of a new technological application aimed at monitoring people with NCDs, especially AH and/or DM, and to better understand the needs of this population when using such tools. Patients reacted positively and it was possible to draw up a profile of this public, which will help us to make improvements to the application and other interfaces, such as an information portal for this same public for subsequent continuous monitoring,

Furthermore, the description of the creation and development of the software includes practical examples of its implementation, the results collected and its applicability in real scenarios, presenting determining criteria that can provide assertive and timely interventions for monitoring and managing the health and/or disease parameters of patients with HA and/or DM. The beneficial consequences of using this application will extend to health units and their respective management, improving the services provided by PHC and enhancing strategies and actions for health promotion and disease prevention.

The conclusions of this study also underline the importance of assertive mobile health interventions, in line with the SDGs and more comprehensive for people who already have NCDs, so that the comorbidity does not progress negatively in the long term. We hope that the knowledge gained in this study will be used to design new applications for patients and that they will be better adopted by adults and the elderly and thus ultimately help to promote active and healthy ageing.

Data availability

Data is provided within the manuscript or supplementary information files.

Abbreviations

Arterial Hypertension

Diabetes Mellitus

Mobile health

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Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Telehealth Center of the Federal University of Viçosa

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Statistical Package for Social Science

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the project team, which is part of the Innovation Program in University Teaching (PRODUS) and the Health Planning and Management Studies Laboratory (LabPlanGest) at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), the Telehealth Center at UFV (NUTELES-UFV) and the Database and Software Engineering Laboratory at the Federal University of Tocantins. The study was made possible by partnerships between the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), the Municipal Health Department of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, the Minas Gerais State Health Department (SES-MG) and the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT).We would also like to thank all the funding agencies that supported this research and its researchers.

This study was funded by the Research Support Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), process n° APQ-02708-21 and by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), process n°: 306358/2020; Financeira de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) (MCTIC/FINEP/FNDCT/AT/AMAZÔNIA LEGAL 04/2016), Research Program of the Unified Health System of the Ministry of Health, Brazil (MS/PPSUS), and the Tocantins State Research Support Foundation (FAPT), grant number FAPT/TO-DECIT/SCTIE/MS-CNPq/N° 01/2017, process 2018/20301/002. ESF is funded by a scholarship from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

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E.S.F. contributed to the literature, designed the study, analyzed the dada and drafted the manuscript. J.P.T.J and M.A.D. collected and analyzed the data. G.D.C. contributed to the supervised the data analysis and revision of the manuscript; A.H.M.O. and G.M.B., software and supervises the data analysis and contributed to the revision of the manuscript; R.M.M.C. contributed to the designed the study, supervised the data analysis and contributed to the drafted and revision of the manuscript for final approval.

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The research project was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of UFV, under opinion no. 4.475.901 and registered, prior to recruitment, by the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), ID: RBR-45hqzmf (Last approval date: 11/30/2022). Written informed consent to participate in the research was obtained from all participants.

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de Souza Ferreira, E., de Oliveira, A.H.M., Dias, M.A. et al. Mobile solution and chronic diseases: development and implementation of a mobile application and digital platform for collecting, analyzing data, monitoring and managing health care. BMC Health Serv Res 24 , 1009 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11505-y

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11505-y

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