Which type of research applies results to the improvement of educational methods?

• A. Basic Research
• B. Applied Research
• C. Descriptive Research
• D. Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research

Answer: (B)

This question focuses on how research is used to improve teaching and learning in real classrooms. Applied research is the kind that takes findings and uses them to solve practical problems and improve educational methods, programs, and policies. For example, researchers might test a new reading intervention in actual classrooms, assess its impact on student progress, and refine the approach based on results so teachers can implement it more effectively.

Basic research, by contrast, aims to expand our understanding of fundamental principles without immediate use in classrooms. Descriptive research describes characteristics or conditions, such as student attitudes or program features, but doesn’t by itself change teaching methods. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies examine whether an intervention causes a change under controlled conditions; they provide evidence about effectiveness, which can inform practice, but the emphasis is on establishing causality rather than directly translating findings into everyday instructional methods.