ABSTRACT
A key goal of research in the social and behavioral sciences is the improvement of practice. Basic research is designed to add to an extant knowledge base by formulating, expanding, or evaluating a theory, and is valued because it is concerned with the development of knowledge, which in turn can have implications for altering practice. Applied research is designed to find a solution to an immediate problem, and is valued because it is concerned with the solution of everyday problems that have implications for altering practice. Recently, the extent to which educational research has influenced educational practice has been the focus of professional discussions.
