Applied research aims to:

• A. Use findings to solve immediate problems
• B. Generate new theories
• C. Test a hypothesis in a lab setting
• D. Randomize participants

Answer: (A)

Applied research focuses on turning findings into practical solutions for real-world problems. In nursing, this means taking what studies show about patient care and using it to improve outcomes now, such as implementing a new protocol to reduce infections or shorten hospital stays. It differs from basic research, which aims to expand understanding and develop theories without an immediate plan for application. Testing a hypothesis in a lab setting describes a research method rather than the aim of the study, and randomizing participants is a study-design technique used to reduce bias, not the purpose of the research itself.