Sem 2 Online Assignment

FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH

Online Assignment submitted to the University of Kerala in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the First  Semester B.Ed. Degree  2019 for

Edu: 03 Technology and Communication in Education

*

ASWATHY A S

Physical Science

Reg. No. :

       MAR THEOPHILUS TRAINING COLLEGE

      MAR IVANIOS VIDYA NAGAR, NALANCHIRA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

2019

INTRODUCTION

Education serves as a primary foundation of gaining knowledge. It is important in that without it a person may act like a cave man with no idea on things and stuff surrounding him.
The twenty-first century has seen the level of education going up through educational research, and it has been racing side by side with technology advancement. Every day new things are discovered, and we have the right to know.

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.

Fundamental Research

Fundamental research, also known as basic research or pure research does not usually generate findings that have immediate applications in a practical level. Fundamental research is driven by curiosity and the desire to expand knowledge in specific research area. This type of research makes a specific contribution to the academic body of knowledge in the research area.

Fundamental studies tend to make generalizations about the phenomenon, and the philosophy of this type of studies can be explained as ‘gathering knowledge for the sake of knowledge’. Fundamental researches mainly aim to answer the questions of why, what or how and they tend to contribute the pool of fundamental knowledge in the research area.

Opposite to fundamental research is applied research that aims to solve specific problems, thus findings of applied research do have immediate practical implications.

Basic ( fundamental or pure) research is driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge, not to create or invent something. There is no obvious commercial value to the discoveries that result from basic research.

 For example, basic science investigations probe for answers to questions such as:

 • How did the universe begin?

 • What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of?

 • How do slime molds reproduce?

• What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?

Most scientists believe that a basic, fundamental understanding of all branches of science is needed in order for progress to take place. In other words, basic research lays down the foundation for the applied science that follows. If basic work is done first, then applied spin-offs often eventually result from this research. As Dr. George Smoot of LBNL says, "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."

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.

Purpose :	Expand knowledge of processes of business and management Results in universal principles relating to the process and its relationship to outcomes Findings of significance and value to society in general
Context :	Undertaken by people based in universities Choice of topic and objectives determined by the researcher Flexible time scales

CONCLUSION

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fundamental Research

Advantages of fundamental research are considered as disadvantages of applied research and vice versa. Fundamental researches are important to expand the pool of knowledge in any discipline. Findings of fundamental studies are usually applicable in a wide range of cases and scenarios. Fundamental studies usually do not have strict deadlines and they are usually driven by the curiosity of the researcher.

At the same time, fundamental studies have disadvantages as well. Findings of this type of studies have little or no practical implications. In other words, fundamental studies do not resolve concrete and specific business problems.

Summary of Basic 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.