Research is broadly classified into two main classes:
Basic or Fundamental Research
Applied Research
Basic research is an examination of the fundamental principles and causes of a specific event, process, or phenomenon. Theoretical research is another name for it. Basic research is the study or investigation of a natural phenomenon or a topic in pure science. Basic research may not always result in instant usage or application. It is uninterested in resolving any practical issues of current relevance. However, it has a unique or basic personality. It allows for a methodical and in-depth understanding of an issue, as well as the extraction of scientific and logical explanations and conclusions. It contributes to the creation of new knowledge frontiers. The results of basic research are the foundation for a lot of applied research. Researchers conducting applied research must make use of the findings of fundamental research and assess their utility.
Research on improving a theory or a method is also referred to as fundamental research.
Fundamental research leads to a new hypothesis, a new attribute of matter, or even the discovery of a new substance that has not before been known or published.
For example, fundamental research on
Astronomy has the potential to lead to the discovery of new planets or stars in our galaxy.
Elementary particles result in the identification of new particles.
Complex functions may lead to new patterns or new properties associated with them.
Differential equations result in new types of solutions or new properties of solutions not known so far.
Chemical reactions lead to the development of new compounds, new properties of chemicals, mechanism of chemicals reactions, etc.,
The study of medical chemistry contributes to a better knowledge of how various chemicals and medications affect the human body.
Understanding the structure, contents, and functions of distinct areas of the human body aids in determining the cause of certain disorders.
In applied research, well-known and accepted theories and ideas are used to solve specific challenges. The majority of experimental research, case studies, and cross-disciplinary research are applied research. Basic research can benefit from applied research. Applied research is defined as a study whose results have direct application. This type of study is useful in current activities. Research on social issues, for example, is immediately useful. Applied research is involved with real-world research such as raising the efficiency of a machine, increasing the gain factor of a material's production, pollution management, disease vaccination preparation, and so on. Obviously, they have instant application potential.
Some of the differences between basic and applied research are summarised in the table below.
Thus, the central aim of applied research is to find a solution for a practical problem that warrants a solution for immediate use, whereas basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus adds new information to the already existing scientific knowledge.
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Basic research |
Applied research |
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Seeks generalization |
Studies individual or specific cases without the objective to generalize |
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Aims at basic processes |
Aims at any variable which makes the desired difference |
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Attempts to explain why things happen |
Tries to say how things can be changed |
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Tries to get all the facts |
Tries to correct the facts which are problematic
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Reports in the technical language of the topic |
Reports in common language |