The Classification of Research Work

Abstract

IT has often been found difficult to discriminate between the different classes of work carried on by research laboratories. This difficulty is intensified when, for such purpose as the founding of an industrial research association, it becomes necessary to explain these differences before persons to whom such work had previously been an unknown quantity. In these circumstances the lack of an exact terminology can cause much confusion; three members of a committee can use the expressions ‘fundamental,’ ‘pure,’ and ‘applied’ research, when all three may nevertheless wish to imply the same thing. Such explanatory terms as ‘deep-digging’ and ‘troublecuring’ are less unmistakeable, but they fail to convey shades of meaning.