What is Research: Definition and 998 Discussions

Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of information to increase understanding of a topic or issue. A research project may be an expansion on past work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research may replicate elements of prior projects or the project as a whole.
The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, and the research and development (R&D) of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies, which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. There are several forms of research: scientific, humanities, artistic, economic, social, business, marketing, practitioner research, life, technological, etc. The scientific study of research practices is known as meta-research.

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  1. I

    Need to write a research proposal

    Hey guys, I have to write a research proposal for one of my modules (Reseach Methods) this year, I don't actually have to do the research. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for topics or areas that would be good to look into?
  2. Y

    Unpublished research and job interviews

    I'm doing my masters in engineering, and I have a job interview tomorrow. They've asked me to prepare a presentation of my research for the interview. The thing is, the PhD student I've been working with has asked me not to share the information with anyone else since not all of it has been...
  3. D

    Importance of research experience matching with Interests

    Hi, I thought about what I wanted to ask and decided to rewrite my question more concisely. Has anyone had any experience with an applicant to physics grad school, who applied in a field almost totally unrelated to his undergrad research? Particularly, in applying to high-end schools? Any...
  4. S

    Summer Research Ideas in Lasers/Laser Cooling

    Hello, I am a final Year undergrad in B.Sc in Electronics. I am going to apply for a Summer Research (2months period )in Lasers in other institutions and I am thinking to work on Laser Cooling. I have to specify a short, innovative project idea. I have gone through courses in Quantum...
  5. E

    Does Research Exist on Biological Neural Network Chips?

    I have seen articles dealing with the growth of brain cells using stem cells. I have also seen, in the past, research attempting to mimic neural connections (using traditional silicon chips) for use in computing. I have searched for any mention of research into using actual living brain cells...
  6. X

    The research around me doesn't make sense

    Hi All, So, I'm in grad school for systems. to me, the whole point of systems is hardware agnosticism. You get to discuss solutions to problems ( related to dynamical systems ) without restricting the discussion to one type of hardware (like motors and or circuits, even though that could be a...
  7. P

    Schools Research and Nuclear Engineering Grad School?

    I posted a question a while back on medical physics and got great feedback so I'm back again in with another dilemma... I spent the summer doing med physics research and I liked the radiation physics and computational aspects of it quite a bit. I'd like to apply for grad school in nuclear...
  8. Greg Bernhardt

    News War on drugs failing, research suggests

    http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/01/world/war-on-drugs-failing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 Can anyone find the original study article? [edit: linked on post 3]
  9. L

    How has CMB research affected modern technology

    So for my physics class, we are trying to find modern applications for different areas of research. I know the HST had a lot of help in the areas of breast cancer research and eye surgery but what are some applications for modern technology that have stemmed from cosmic microwave background...
  10. Hercuflea

    Can one move from fission to fusion research after PhD?

    Hi everyone, I am currently applying to graduate schools in nuclear engineering. I am applying to some top 10 schools and also some lower ranked ones as safeties. However, my fear is that if I am not accepted to a top ten school I will have to attend the safety schools. I am not particularly...
  11. H

    CAMPEP accredited graduate program and x-ray phase-imaging research

    Hi, Last week I finished M.Sc. degree in Medical Physics. Now I'm pondering what to do next. I have a few questions mainly for Medical Physicsists or Medical Physics Residents: 1. Recently I got very interested in reasearch in the area of the X-ray phase-contrast imaging (PCI). As far as I...
  12. M

    Schools Grad school for the PGRE challenged: How to make my research count?

    Hi guys and gals, first post here, but I've lurked here before but just now registering and posting I'm getting ready to apply for my graduate schools. I'm not sure what exactly I'm seeking, so I want to provide a little background. I've always been a tinkerer, ever since I was young I've...
  13. T

    Schools Doing Research as a community college student at a local University

    I just found out if I want to transfer to a UC I will have to take 3 years at my local community college. Is it reasonable to go talk to professors at the local university (Cal Poly SLO) and see if I could do research with them? I do not really have much to offer them other than a dedicated...
  14. V

    Current standing of qubit research

    Good day everyone, I apologize if this is not the correct forum; in some way it is a homework question but not of the ordinary form. This semester I will be writing a ~3000 word paper on the topic of the current standing in qubit research, where I will be describing and comparing various...
  15. R

    What is doing physics research like?

    Hi. I'm going to be a freshman at UCLA. I like physics and it is my major, but I'm considering changing to computer science, but I hate doing experiments and taking down data and all that stuff that you do in high school. Is doing physics research like that in undergraduate and graduate school...
  16. P

    Simultaneous physics research projects

    I am currently doing research for credit with two professors (separately), one in theoretical particle and the other in experimental atomic/molecular. I have an interest in both, however I think that one may increase in time commitment and make me unable to perform both simultaneously. Does...
  17. L

    Best Laptop for Programming and Research on a Budget

    So I am a sophomore Astronomy and Physics student looking for a powerful laptop to do programming and to help me with research. I would like it to support things like Python, MATlab, LaTeX, Mathematica, LabVIEW, anything for astronomy, but relatively lightweight and has HDMI, Blu-Ray, high...
  18. J

    What are the expectations for authorship when using a forum for research help?

    Hi there, I'm a first year PhD student and was going to ask the forum for some advice on some maths (specifically Fourier) that will be used in my work. However, I wanted to know what the forum/general policy is on what happens should this work ever be published. Would a forum contributor be...
  19. C

    Charlie Johnson: Finding Research Area for PhD Programs

    Hello PF community, My name is Charlie Johnson. I just graduated from Stanford where I did a B.S. in Engineering Physics. I am studying for the Physics GRE and planning to apply to PhD programs this Fall. I have many interests both in and outside of school, and so I find it difficult to choose...
  20. S

    Research paper citation question.

    Does anyone know what citation I should use for an academic paper in biochemistry?(like MLA, ALA, or what?)
  21. S

    Research paper citation question.

    Does anyone know what citation I should use for an academic paper in biochemistry?(like MLA, ALA, or what?)
  22. B

    Research topics in Variable stars

    Hey, I am an undergraduate physics & astronomy student. I am looking for a good research topic to work on for this semester. I have access to a .5 m telescope in Louisville, Ky (38 deg N), a .5 m telescope, and possibly another with a built in spectroscopy as well as photometry capabilities...
  23. N

    Is Pursuing Research Abroad a Good Option for IIT Aspirants?

    is it good to go for research i m currently in India preparing for iit and want go research doing MS must i be in foreign or ... is there scope in research
  24. U

    Schools Starting off research in grad school

    Hi, I'm starting off grad school this fall. My adviser mailed me some published papers that have been written by our group. I've been through them, and although I understand the basic idea, I don't understand many of the formulas and theories used. Is this normal? Usually, how do people start...
  25. A

    Fund Your Research: Physicists, Build Your Business & Reach Your Goals

    As a physicist... Would you like to fund your own research? Lets say that you are a brilliant physicist—applies to any scientists in general—and working on a research while running a business, and you have the ability to fund and build laboratories. I want to hear what people think of that...
  26. A

    Research topics and nanotechnology.

    Can someone elaborate on E.E research topics and current-active research programs? I have read about photonics, optical computing, quantum computing and semi-conductors. I plan on doing a project and small research on an undergraduate level. I tried to do a research on tokamaks and confining...
  27. N

    Programs Physics major for technology research?

    If I majored in physics would I have the qualifications to work with technology? I like physics very much and sometimes want to research but mostly I want to work with technology and find ways to make it better. Is it smart to think of a major in physics and maybe double major or minor? Or...
  28. N

    Physics Can physicists apply their own research?

    If I was a physicist and did research on superconductors can I apply it and make a product or a prototype on my own?
  29. trollcast

    Exploring Career Options in Research and Development: A Student's Perspective

    I'm struggling to choose between degree courses (I'm in my last year of HS, well uk equivalent) but I've sort of realized where / what I'd want to do at the end of it. Out of all the people my parents know and from my work experience / university tours the only real careers I've seen and thought...
  30. F

    What are some tips for starting research in Physics as a high school student?

    I'm going into my Junior year of high school and as of now I am worrying about what I have to do to get into the university of my choice. Until recently I haven't heard of the USAMO of Physics Olympiad competitions that would make me stand out, and I am not sure if I will be able to do them. I...
  31. S

    Love physics but hate research?

    Hi all, I'm a confused sophomore physics major. I love studying physics, but after completing 2 REUs (one in experimental AMO, one in computational atmospheric) I've started to realize that research is not for me. Basically, I'm not a very hands-on person, I dislike coding and I don't have the...
  32. N

    Programs Which major is best for technology research?

    I know that when I get out of college I want to work with all types of technology from computers to warp drives to automobile engines etc. I don't want to limit myself to just one area of technology. I thought a major in physics would be the best option to work with all types of technology but...
  33. teroenza

    Schools Graduate School Research Expenditures by Sub-Field

    I am looking for a central source of physics graduate school research expenditures, broken down by sub-field (nuclear, condensed matter, AMO, HEP, etc.). I can find the total amount spent here http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools but I am not sure where to go for this kind of...
  34. B

    Engineering Combining Chemistry/Physics/Engineering Research

    Hello, I have a Monbusho scholarship(Japan) Bachelors in robotics(thesis: Molecular Dynamics for biofuels), have done an Erasmus Mundus fellowship dbl masters in Quantum Chemistry/Phys (thesis: DFT for solar cells) and am just pursuing a Marie curie fellowship in Theoretical Physics (thesis...
  35. O

    Are research papers published by universities in china available to us

    or vice versa? does the language barrier impede the exchange of knowledge?
  36. L

    Operations research word problem help appreciated

    I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me in answering these two questions related to this problem. I'm rather stuck! Problem - Ronald has just discovered four new ingredients for making a very potent potion that will raise his IQ by 15 points. We can only identify the ingredients as...
  37. C

    First undergrad math/philosophical research project (working proposal)

    The aim of my research is to show that some set (#) axiomatically perceived as deviating from the non-'0' entity will subscribe to a non-'0' collection (#) of perspectives (interpretations) on said finite characters from the finite interpretations (predicated on only 1 of 5 senses a.k.a. vision...
  38. S

    Being involved in research without knowing everything about the topic?

    So I was at an astrophysics summer program and one of the professors offered to help, as he has connections at this university near where I live, if I ever wanted to research/intern there. I know some people at my high school who have done similar things, so I was pretty excited. Trouble is, I...
  39. N

    Difficulties in choosing a research area

    Hello people, I'm new here, but i already read some topics with this similar question. I'm just about to finish my master degree in theoretical physics (more specifically in qft) and besides i have really enjoyable moments studying it... I feel that something isn't right. It's a hard area...
  40. T

    An Invitation to Mathematics: From Competitions to Research

    ''This Invitation to Mathematics consists of 14 contributions, many from the world's leading mathematicians, which introduce the readers to exciting aspects of current mathematical research. The contributions are as varied as the personalities of active mathematicians, but together they show...
  41. G

    Schools Graduate Schools for Photovoltaic Research

    Hello! First post on Physics Forums. I am a rising junior majoring in physics at a small liberal arts college. I'm very interested in renewable energy, and this summer I've been introduced to a bit of research in this area. I'm working with a semiconductor material and characterizing thermal...
  42. P

    Drawing schematics for solid state physics research

    Hello, I'm working on a poster and senior thesis in materials science research and need to draw schematic diagrams of a few objects including: -a PLD chamber -Thin films -XRD -SEM -energy diagrams -a sin wave I've downloads inkscape and have tried to draw in powerpoint so far. Are...
  43. T

    What are the most promising research studies on cancer's cure?

    Every now and then, a news appears saying a new research could revert cancer on mice or something similar. But then I don't hear about them anymore. So what are the most promising research studies on curing cancer, and were there any promising researches before that failed when tested on humans?
  44. M

    Programs What to research while deciding on a major?

    I'm in the process of settling on a major (either Comp. Sci. or EE) and here are some things I've considered: A. Subject description & relevance on a personal level I. Hobbies B. Subject description & relevance as a career choice I. Industries within the major II...
  45. B

    Can Community College Professors Pursue Effective Theoretical Physics Research?

    Hello, Let's suppose a person has procured a Ph.D in Physics, and chooses to affix themselves to some community college faculty as a physics professor. Is it possible for this person to still do research in some aspect of theoretical physics?
  46. Astrum

    Preparing for UnderGraduate Research

    I'm interested in getting some research under my belt starting during the 2014 academic year. What should I study over the next year, so I can try and get some research in right away? The obvious ones: Undergrad QM, EM (in the process), Class Mech (doing Morin now, the questions are much...
  47. M

    Pathway to Learning and Research in Graph Theory

    Hi All As the title suggests I want to get to a level where I can approach research problems in Graph Theory. Specifically in the areas of Algebraic Graph Theory and Random Graphs. I know this is no small endeavour but I atleast want to put some direction into my extra studying. My...
  48. dkotschessaa

    My role in this research I'm doing (semi-rant?)

    I have a professor who doesn't tend to do undergraduate research with people, but has graciously taken on me and one other student to do some work in group theory/geometry. Me because of my enthusiasm, and her because... Well she's light years ahead of me, though she doesn't speak very good...
  49. S

    Asking for Research; Aloof Prof.

    Hello. I'm an undergraduate physics/applied math major hoping to go to grad school. I have a professor in my school who I'm interested in doing research under because the subject of his research is, well, interesting to me. Also I'm consider it in graduate school. I had him last semester...
  50. jlefevre76

    ASU research recommendations

    Ok, so, I'm going to ASU this Fall to start a PhD program in mechanical engineering. Specifically, all of my expertise is in thermodynamics and heat transfer. So, I plan on doing research related to such a field if possible. ASU (Arizona State) has two avenues of research that interest me...
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