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Basic research

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Basic research (also called pure research or fundamental research) is a systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena.[1] Basic research is executed without thought of a practical end goal, without specific applications or products in mind.[1] It includes all branches of science and engineering.[2]

Basic research has been described as arising out of curiosity.[3] Basic research is contrasted with applied research, which is research focused on a particular problem or application. Basic research lays the foundation for advancements in knowledge that lead to applied gains later on, occasionally as a result of unexpected discoveries.[3]

The International Council for Science, in a December 2004 position statement, urged support for and adequate public investment in basic research, stating that basic science, innovation, and development are intertwined.[4]

In the United States, pure research is mainly carried out by universities and institutes financed by the government. [5] However, in the 2010s, as appropriations for government research have decreased or remained stagnate, funding by wealthy entrepreneurs has emerged as a significant source of support.[6]

Overview

Basic research advances fundamental knowledge about the world. It focuses on refuting or supporting theories that explain observed phenomena. Pure research is the source of most new scientific ideas and ways of thinking about the world. It can be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory; however, explanatory research is the most common.[7]

Basic research generates new ideas, principles, and theories, which may not be immediately utilized but nonetheless form the basis of progress and development in different fields. Today's computers, for example, could not exist without research in pure mathematics conducted over a century ago, for which there was no known practical application at the time. Basic research rarely helps practitioners directly with their everyday concerns; nevertheless, it stimulates new ways of thinking that have the potential to revolutionize and dramatically improve how practitioners deal with a problem in the future.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "What is basic research?" (PDF). National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2014-05-31. Basic research is performed without thought of practical ends. It results in general knowledge and understanding of nature and its laws.
  2. ^ 32 C.F.R. 272.3.
  3. ^ a b Curiosity Creates Cures: The Value and Impact of Basic Research, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health.
  4. ^ ICSU Position Statement: The value of basic scientific research (December 2004), International Council for Science.
  5. ^ Ganapati, Priya (2008-08-27). "Bell Labs Kills Fundamental Physics Research". Wired. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ William J. Broad (March 15, 2014). "Billionaires With Big Ideas Are Privatizing American Science". The New York Times. The Times Company. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  7. ^ Research: Anyone Can Do It. By Fernando Guimaraes
  8. ^ Research: Anyone Can Do It. By Fernando Guimaraes

Further reading

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