Fundamental,

Applied and
Action Research
Dr. Akhilesh Kumar
Research???
 Research generates knowledge in order to:

build pave the action change emancipate expose and

broader way for within a through change the
understanding change system action dominate
system

Basic Applied / Action research Critical /

or pure evaluative radical
research research technical/ participatory/ ethnography
practical emancipatory

3
 Types of Research

Criteria Types
On the basis of Fundamental Applied Research Action Research
Objectives Research
On the Basis of Qualitative Quantitative research
Nature of Data Research

On the basis of Explanatory Exploratory Descriptive

Nature of Findings Research Research Research

On the basis Experimental Non-Experimental Research

Experimental Research
manipulations
On the basis of Longitudinal Cross Sectional Research
approach involved Research
 Basic vs. Applied Research

Basic / Fundamental Research – type of

research that may have limited direct application but
in which the researcher has careful control of the
conditions
Applied research – type of research that has
direct value to practitioners but in which the
researcher has limited control over the research
setting
 Fundamental / Basic Research

Basic / Fundamental / Pure research

Salient Features:
 Based on the belief ‘Knowledge for the knowledge’s sake’.
 Collection and analysis of data to develop or enhance theory
 Advancement of knowledge.
 Take place in a sterile environment
 Understanding of theoretical relationship between variables
 Exploratory in nature
 Without any pre-assumption of any utility.
Examples:
Piaget Theory of Cognitive Development
Experiment of Pavlov (Classical Conditioning theory)
Gardner’s multiple intelligences
 Applied Research

Salient Features:
Solve specific, practical questions
Can be exploratory, but usually descriptive
Involves precise measurement of the characteristics and
describes relationships between variables of a studied
phenomenon
Collection and analysis of data to examine the usefulness of
theory in solving practical educational problems
 Examples
Developing a seventh grade social studies curriculum around a
problem-solving approach to learning
Examining the effectiveness of a computer-based algebra program
developed around a mastery learning approach
Accommodating varied learning styles when teaching lessons in
modern literature
Relationship between Basic & Applied Research

The interaction of basic and applied research

 Basic research provides the theory that produces the concepts
for solving educational problems
 Applied research provides the data to help support, guide, and
revise the development theory
 Doing basic research ensures that applied researchers do not
need to reinvent the wheel every time they start on a new
project, because the groundwork has been done.
 Comparisons:

Basic Research Applied Research

Domain- driven - Demand-driven –
intended to lead intended to lead to soln
theoretical dvpt of specific problems
Justified in terms of Designed to solve
gaining knowledge for its practical problems of the
sake – they focus on modern world
making things better and
creating a more humane
society
Can take the research
The main motivation is basic research further
to expand man's based on the results,
knowledge where applicable
 Comparisons…

Basic Research Applied Research

Done for the intellectual Done to test theories in
pleasure of learning the field to achieve better
validity.
Mainly concerned with Aims at finding a
generalizations and with solution for an
the formulation of a immediate problem
theory facing a society
 Comparisons…

Applied
Basic
The central aim is to
Directed towards discover a solution for
finding information some pressing practical
that has broad base of problem
applications
There is commercial
No commercial value value, e.g. research to
attached to the improve agricultural
discoveries that result crop production
from basic research.
 Comparisons…

Applied
Basic
Synthetic
Analytic
Entails a search for
Involves a search for pragmatics solutions to
enduring or general particular problems
truths
Entirely a pursuit of
Exploration social concerns
 Definition of Action Research

John Best & Kahn: “Action research is focused on the

immediate application and not on the development of
theory. It has placed its emphasis on a real problem in
a local setting. Its finding are to be evaluated in terms
of local applicability, not in terms of universal
validity”
 What is action research?

Action research is systematic inquiry done by

teachers (or other individuals in an educational
setting) to gather information about, and
subsequently improve, the ways their particular
educational setting operates, how they teach, and
how well their students learn (Mills, 2000).
 Action Research

‘Actionresearch is simply a form of self-

reflective enquiry undertaken by participants
in social situations in order to improve the
rationality and justice of their own practices,
their understanding of these practices, and
the situations in which the practices are
carried out’
(Carr and Kemmis 1986).
Reflective teaching is a process of developing lessons or assessing student
learning with thoughtful consideration of educational theory, existing research, and
practical experience, along with the analysis of the lesson’s effect on student
learning (Parsons & Brown, 2002).
 Action Research

It is a process for studying practical problems of social

studies.
It is a scientific procedure for finding out a practical
solution of current problem.
The practitioner can only study his problem.
It is a personal research for clinical research work.
The focus is to improve and modify the current practices.
The individual and group problems studied by action
research.
It does not contribute to the fund of knowledge.
Lewin’s Model of AR
Calhaun’s AR cycle
Bachman’s AR Cycle
Riel’s AR Model
 Action Research History

Kurt Lewin(1946) credit with development of

concept of action research
Evolved and influenced by Kemmis(1983), Ebbutt
(1985), Elliott (1991), Hopkins (1985) and others…
 Types of Action Research

Action Research

Participatory Practical

•Studying local practices

•Studying social issues that
constrain individual lives
•Emphasizing equal
collaboration
•Focusing on “life-enhancing
changes”
•Resulting in the emancipated
researcher
involving individual or team-
based inquiry
•Focusing on teacher
development and student
learning
•Implementing a plan of action
•Leading to the teacher-as-
researcher
Action research: Data collection techniques

Action Research
Data Collection Techniques
(The Three E’s)
Examining
Experiencing Enquiring (By using records)
(By observing)
(By asking)
Participant Observation Archival documents
(Active participant) Informal Interview Journals
Structured formal Maps
Interview Audio and
Passive Observer
Questionnaires Videotapes
Attitude Scales Artifacts
Standardized Tests Fieldnotes
 Research
Applied
Research

Fundamental /
Basic
Research Action
Research
References

Best, J.W.(2013) Research Methods in Education, Prentice Hall

of India, New Delhi
Cohen,L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007) Research Methods
in Education, Routledge, London, 1st Ed.
Gay, L.R., (1992) Educational Research: Competencies for
Analysis and Application, Merill-Macmillan, New York, 4th
Ed.
McNiff, J. & Whitehead J., (2002) Actiona Research: Principle
& Practices, Routledge-Falmer, London, 1st Ed.
Norton, S.L., (2009) Action Research in Teaching and Learning:
A Practical Guide to Conducting Pedagogical Research in
Universities, Routledge, London,1st Ed.
Paneerselvam, R. (2012). Research Methodology, Prentice Hall
of India, New Delhi, 10th Ed.
Questions?????
Thank You!!