ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a framework for approaching and conducting cognitive psychology research from an applied perspective. Definitions are offered to differentiate basic versus applied research, and cognitive applied psychology versus applied cognitive psychology. The development of my own research program examining comprehension and memory for information presented on television is offered as an example that incorporates both the advantages and disadvantages of these various research approaches. By elaborating an alternative to basic research, this chapter aims to encourage cognitive psychologists to step back from their theories and their familiar methodologies and think in practical ways about the behaviors that they are interested in understanding. I assert that there is room in our field to shift the focus in the direction of addressing more interesting applied behaviors without abandoning empirical rigor or theoretical progress.
