The distinction between basic and applied research does not have to do with the difficulty of the problem or to which branch of psychology it relates. Basic research is more theoretical and focused on understanding a phenomenon, whereas applied research is more focused on solving a real-world problem.

"Industrial-organizational psychology" focuses on applying the scientific study of individuals and groups to optimizing workplace performance. Psychologists in this field typically work for large corporations and help them to improve areas including employee satisfaction, employee retention, and productivity.

Wilhelm Wundt, regarded historically as one of the founders of modern psychology, introduced his structuralist perspective in the late 1870's, as the first major psychological perspective. In direct response to this, the school of functionalismin the later 1880s was introduced by William James. Gestalt psychology was first introduced in 1890 by Christian von Ehrenfels, though the idea of gestalt can be traced back as far as David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Last, evolutionary psychology did not begin to differentiate itself from mere evolutionary biology until well into the 20th century, with most historians placing the actual date around the 1960's-1980's (Donald Symons likely being the first dedicated evolutionary psychologist in the 1970's).

The distinction between basic and applied research does not have to do with the difficulty of the problem or to which branch of psychology it relates. Basic research is more theoretical and focused on understanding a phenomenon, whereas applied research is more focused on solving a real-world problem.

"Industrial-organizational psychology" focuses on applying the scientific study of individuals and groups to optimizing workplace performance. Psychologists in this field typically work for large corporations and help them to improve areas including employee satisfaction, employee retention, and productivity.