What do you find interesting about applied research?

This project focuses on applied research (also known as workplace or practical research); it is not an academic research project.

Applied research draws from practical sources that can be understood and applied in professional situations. For example, if you were trying to assess a workplace issue (working remotely, use of technology, communication, etc.), you would need to find sources that analyzed those topics in relation to workplaces and/or businesses—not academia.

In short, applied research is used to connect your ideas to what’s happening in the world. Many of your future careers will ask you to perform applied research in order to solve workplace issues. This project exposes you to ways of conducting online research for practical problems.

Exercise

First, read the following:

Hall, Chapter 1 Download Hall, Chapter 1
Hall, Chapter 2
Hovde, “Preparing Technical Communication Students for Workplace Practitioner Research” Download Hovde, “Preparing Technical Communication Students for Workplace Practitioner Research”
Chapter 22, “Workplace Research” via USF Writes (Links to an external site.)
Then, compose a short reading response in which you discuss the readings. Be sure to reference at least one idea from each article.

Some questions to consider:

What did you learn about applied research?
How does applied research differ from academic research?
What do you find interesting about applied research?
How does applied research differ from research you’ve done in college so far?
In what ways will you alter your approach to research?

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