DIFFERENCES IN TYPES OF RESEARCH: APPLIED OR THEORETICAL

Applied research is directed at resolving a practical, real-world issue, while
theoretical research is not as closely tied to a near-term, real-world use.
Applied and theoretical research strategies are similar in many ways—they
include researcher training, tools, and ethical responsibilities, for instance.
They differ in the motivations that drive people to gather and analyze
information.
Applied research products are often put to use immediately by the
research sponsors, while theoretical research may never be directly utilized in
the “real” world. Often, practitioners and others working in industry perform
applied research while theoretical research is done by academics. Applied
research, when completed, can be used with little, if any, tweaking, to resolve
a particular issue of interest, while completed theoretical research generally is
most useful as a component of a future research program.
High-quality applied and theoretical research can be published in wellrespected
scholarly journals, adding to the professional knowledge of the
industry. However, applied research might not be published, at least initially,
because its results provide a competitive advantage to the group that
conducted it. Publication makes what has been learned at significant cost
available to all interested parties, which reduces the period of time it can be
applied exclusively (by the researchers) for financial gain. Although theoretical
research can also be used to generate income, it is more often completed to
enhance professional reputation, promote sharing of information, and expand
the profession’s collective body of knowledge.