Psychological Experimentation Addressing Practical Concerns

Abstract

In this chapter we focus on experimental research that has been motivated explicitly by practical concerns or that has yielded results the practical implications of which are relatively direct. Following some comments about the distinction between basic and applied research, and about indications of a recently growing interest in applications, we describe the historical roots of applied experimental psychology and the status of the field today. We note studies in several applications areas illustrating the broad range of topics that applied experimentation has addressed. We give examples of challenges for applied experimentation that come from psychological, social or technological concerns, and we argue the necessity of clearly communicating the practical implications of experimentation if they are to applied to good effect.