Which type of research is directed at a specific problem to be solved and is done with the immediate goal of applying the results to that problem?

• A. Basic Research
• B. Descriptive Research
• C. Action Research
• D. Historical Research

Answer: (C)

This question tests the idea of research that aims to solve a specific problem with results that can be immediately applied. Action research is conducted in real-world settings by the people who work in them, often practitioners themselves, with the explicit goal of improving practice. It proceeds in an ongoing cycle: plan an intervention, act on it, observe the outcomes, and reflect to refine the approach. Because the focus is on practical change and immediate use of findings, it’s common in education and counseling to test a new counseling strategy, classroom support, or school-wide program and adjust it based on what the data show.

In contrast, basic research seeks to generate new knowledge or theory without an immediate need to apply the findings to a concrete problem. Descriptive research describes characteristics or conditions of a situation but isn’t designed to implement a solution. Historical research looks at past events to understand how and why things happened. These approaches contribute to knowledge in different ways, but they aren’t driven by the direct aim of solving a current problem with actionable results.