Research

Research is a systematic inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, or revising knowledge. It involves identifying questions, gathering evidence, and drawing conclusions.

It spans disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and arts. It can be basic (seeking to extend knowledge for its own sake) or applied (solving concrete problems). Methods vary across fields.

The typical process includes defining a question or hypothesis, conducting a literature review, choosing an appropriate methodology, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting findings. Some projects are exploratory; others test hypotheses through experiments, observations, surveys, simulations, or textual or archival analysis. Results are interpreted in the context of existing knowledge.

Methods emphasize rigor, transparency, and reproducibility. Researchers use controls, sampling strategies, statistical analyses, and qualitative coding as appropriate. Ethics, including consent, privacy, and potential impacts, are integral, along with responsible data management and compliance with regulations. Collaboration, peer review, and dissemination through venues such as journals, conferences, or open repositories are common.

The outputs of research inform theory, policy, technology, and practice. They require critical appraisal, replication, and sometimes revision of prior conclusions. The landscape evolves with funding, accessibility, and open science practices, influencing how research is conducted and shared.