Lab Meets World: the Case for Use-Inspired Basic Research in Affective Science

• Published in: Affective science Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 591 - 599
• Main Authors: Wilson-Mendenhall, Christine D., Holmes, Kevin J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Psychology; Short Review; Affective science; Community-engaged research; Use-inspired basic research; Basic research; Applied research; Stakeholder engagement
• ISSN: 2662-2041; 2662-205X; 2662-205X
• DOI: 10.1007/s42761-023-00200-6

We join others in envisioning a future for affective science that addresses society’s most pressing needs. To move toward this vision, we consider a research paradigm that emerged in other disciplines: use-inspired basic research. This paradigm transcends the traditional basic-applied dichotomy, which pits the basic goal of fundamental scientific understanding against the applied goal of use in solving social problems. In reality, these goals are complementary, and use-inspired basic research advances them simultaneously. Here, we build a case for use-inspired basic research—how it differs from traditional basic science and why affective scientists should engage in it. We first examine how use-inspired basic research challenges problematic assumptions of a strict basic-applied dichotomy. We then discuss how it is consistent with advances in affective science that recognize context specificity as the norm and consider ethical issues of use being a complementary goal. Following this theoretical discussion, we differentiate the implementation of use-inspired basic research from that of traditional basic science. We draw on examples from recent research to illustrate differences: social problems as a starting point, stakeholder and community engagement, and integration of research and service. In conclusion, we invite affective scientists to embrace the “lab meets world” perspective of use-inspired basic research as a promising pathway to real-world impact.