What type of research is conducted specifically to enhance our general understanding of psychology?

Basic research is specifically designed to enhance our general understanding of psychology by investigating fundamental principles and theories. It aims to expand knowledge without immediate practical application in mind. For instance, a study exploring the cognitive processes involved in memory or the neural pathways responsible for emotion would be examples of basic research.

This type of research lays the groundwork for further investigations and can inform practical applications down the line, but its primary goal is to gain insight into how psychological phenomena operate. In contrast, applied research is more focused on finding solutions to specific problems, while qualitative research pertains to the nature of data collected, emphasizing understanding human behavior through non-numerical data. Observational research, on the other hand, is a method used within various types of research to gather data through observing subjects in their natural environment.