Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC)

• Field of Research (FOR) codes
• Socio-Economic Objectives (SEO) codes
• Types of Activities (TOA) codes
• Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Codes

The Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC) is the collective name for a set of three Australian Bureau of Statistics related classifications developed for use in the measurement and analysis of research and experimental development (R&D) undertaken in Australia, both in the public and private sectors. It allows the comparison of R&D data between sectors of the Australian economy (e.g. general government, private non-profit organisations, business enterprises and educational institutions). One of the component classifications, Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines, is designed to also allow data collected on higher education courses, units of study and teaching activity to be categorised.

Use of these classifications ensures that R&D statistics and statistics collected from higher education institutions are useful to governments, educational institutions, international organisations, scientific, professional or business organisations, business enterprises, community groups and private individuals.

ASEC classifications are used when completing:

• Research Proposal Clearance Forms
• ARC Grant Applications
• Government Research Performance Reporting

full list of FOR Codes

This classification allows both R&D activity and other activity within the higher education sector to be categorised. It allows R&D activity to be categorised according to the field of research undertaken. In this respect, it is the nature of the R&D which is being examined. In addition, the classification is to be used within the higher education sector to classify courses, units of study and teaching activity to field.

The categories in the classification include recognised academic disciplines and related major sub-fields taught at universities or tertiary institutions, major fields of research investigated by national research institutions and organisations, and emerging areas of study.

Full list of SEO Codes

This classification allows R&D to be categorised according to the purpose of the R&D as perceived by the data provider (researcher). It consists of discrete economic, social, technological or scientific domains for identifying the principal purpose of the R&D. The attributes applied to the design of the SEO Classification comprise a combination of processes, products, health, education and other social and environmental aspects of particular interest.

This classification allows R&D activity to be categorised according to the type of research effort, namely, pure basic research, strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development.

• Pure basic research is experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge without looking for long term benefits other than the advancement of knowledge.
• Strategic basic research is experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge directed into specified broad areas in the expectation of useful discoveries. It provides the broad base of knowledge necessary for the solution of recognised practical problems.
• Applied research is original work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge with a specific application in view. It is undertaken either to determine possible uses for the findings of basic research or to determine new ways of achieving some specific and predetermined objectives.
• Experimental development is systematic work, using existing knowledge gained from research or practical experience for the purpose of creating new or improved products/processes.

A Research Project is normally to be classified under only one type of activity. However, there are instances where a research project is large and could potentially be classifiable to more than one type, i.e. a project could have sub-projects with elements of both applied and experimental research. In this case, the proportion of resources attributable to each should be allocated to each type.

Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Codes

ANZSIC is used to describe Industry sectors.

Find out more about ANZSIC codes.