That is, science can be said to be largely abstract, the goal simply being figuring out how something works.
I totally agree.
I'm performing research into worry and the effect it has on people.
The findings may lead to a change in service provided by the nhs (i.e. the application of the knowledge gained through scientific inquiry) but the scientific method is only used as a method of understanding of what is going on when people worry.
I'm always worrying about the practical applications of my findings but that does not stop it being science.