The advantages and disadvantages of doing applied research

Advantages

• Address interesting and important issues
• Work can translate directly to improvements in essential policies and practices
• Wide variety of projects, both in content and methods
• Always a new challenge and something else to learn

Disadvantages

• Work performed typically driven by client need, not researcher interests
• Outcomes of work sometimes overcome by events (e.g., shift in problem, change in leadership)
• “Real world” constraints can interfere with the "scientific method"