Applied Research

Applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. Applied research is used to find
solutions to everyday problems, cure illness, and develop innovative technologies.

Applied Research is designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge for
knowledges sake. One might say that the goal of the applied scientist is to improve the human condition.

Applied Research Topic Examples

Persuasion of individuals
Interventions for specific child behaviors
Ways to market products
How to abolish hate crime
How can bullying be prevented?
How to reverse or manage global warming
Is mercury poisoning affecting intellectual disorders?
Should vaccinations be avoided to prevent autism?
What methods can be used to prevent criminals from acting again?
What is causing increased poverty?
How can the achievement gap of students from various socio-economic backgrounds be bridged in education?
How can cyber security be improved?
What types of additives are acceptable and healthy for manufacturers to use in human food products?
Is irradiation of beef healthy for consumers?
Is genetically modified food hurting health?
How does immigration affect the economy?
Is technology use for children helpful or harmful?
Is violence in the media and in video games damaging childrens mental health?
Are there ways to prevent juvenile offenders from becoming lifelong criminals?
How is the media affecting females body perceptions?
Would a change in welfare policy spur an increase in individuals seeking work?
What changes are necessary to create jobs?
How does the consumption of oil in the United States affect its economy?
How would the legalization of some drugs affect various groups within society?
What type of anti-smoking campaigns can reduce smoking among youth or adults?
How can obesity be prevented?
What effect does fast food have on overall health?
How can social anxiety be overcome?
How does social media change individuals perception of society and themselves?
Does marriage prevent certain mental or physical illnesses?
In what ways can depression be managed without medication?
Do government enforced regulations help or stigmatize those in oppressed groups (such as affirmative action or Title IX in
womens sports)?
Is there a wage gap between men and women in the United States, and if so, why?
Is multi-tasking helpful or hurtful?
Are children of working mothers at any long term disadvantage as opposed to children of stay at home mothers?
What are ways to improve school readiness for children?
How can graduation rates be improved in urban school environments that are currently not producing as many graduates as
their suburban counterparts?
What can be done to increase the amount of graduating high school students choosing to attend college?
Is college tuition becoming prohibitive to young adults being successful and able to support themselves?
Is technology creating a dumbing down of individuals?
How does tobacco use in various forms affect humans?
Does marijuana pose a greater or smaller health risk than tobacco, when smoked?
Can marijuana cause the kind of impairment requiring it to be regulated like alcohol?
Applied research topics can cover a wide variety of subjects, all addressing practical problems.

Example in Psychology

Investigating which treatment approach is the most effective for reducing anxiety

Researching which strategies work best to motivate workers

Studying different keyboard designs to determine which is the most efficient and ergonomic

Analyzing what type of prompts will inspire people to volunteer their time to charities

Applied Research
As mentioned before, applied research is something that we can use. Here is a simple question: 'How should a student study?' There
are many ways to go about answering this question, and the ones we will look at have a direct and applicable finding. For example, what
can research tell us about how a student studies?
Most people like to study in their bedroom, laying on their bed in some weird posture. They collect all their notes and spread them
haphazardly across the bed. Just reading is boring, so they may have the radio on. Some people have both the radio and the television
on. Then people have to talk to their friends so their phone isn't far off. And pets are usually somewhere in the paperwork. However,
research has found that a quiet room, without music, animals or television improves concentration.
Sitting like you will take the test creates a state of consciousness similar to taking the test. And instead of taking all the notes and trying
to cram before the test, it should be spaced out. When proper study habits are applied, they can increase scores on tests and allow a
person to retain the information longer. In other words, we researched the best way to study and will now apply our findings - this is
applied research.