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. D

    Do full time research actually mean working the whole day?

    I am going into third year (junior) in the coming fall and I plan to do some research over the summers with a prof I know. I've talked with the prof and he seems to be willing to take me on. However I have one concern is if I can graduate within four years. To make that happen, I have to...
  2. jbrussell93

    Admissions Grad admissions - GPA vs published research?

    I recently read a very interesting article about graduate admissions written by an adcom. He says a few things that are the exact OPPOSITE of what I've heard. I've always heard that a good GPA and GRE scores are probably the most important part of a good application besides recs and...
  3. F

    Is Expecting to 'Pay Your Dues' in UG Research Necessary for Success?

    I was reading a book by Cal Newport's book "Win at College", and one chapter he gives advice on paying your dues in research. Here's an excerpt from that chapter: "If getting involved with original research is one of the best things you can do as an undergraduate, then getting involved and...
  4. E

    Finding a Mentor for High School Research Project on Clothing and Behavior

    I'm a high school student and I recently thought of a really cool study on behavior towards people dressed in different clothes - there's a little more to it than that but I don't know if you need that for this question. Anyway since I'm in high school I've never researched or done a project...
  5. V

    Which engineering branch is good for research works in future?

    I am from India.. I want a branch which has significant room for research works in future after B tech Mtec and so on.. Right now my preference is Electrical and electronics,Electronics &Ccommunication,Electrical Engineering, Computer Science.(need further suggestions from u)... Is it good or...
  6. J

    Career path for research in CS

    What kind of career path should i follow if i want a job whihc involves devising new and better ways of using computers and addressing particular challenges in areas such as robotics, physics and other sciences. I will start my undergradute course in CSE this year. After that what will i have...
  7. G

    Schools Physics research experience high school

    How can a high school student, such as myself gain research experience? I'm not talking about anything overly impressive. I am just talking about possibly doing something along the lines of a research mentor-ship with a physicist from a local university or something. Am i already asking too...
  8. F

    UG research- Actually doing research more important than relevance of field?

    When graduate school admissions look at your undergrad research experience, does it matter that much whether the field research experience have any relevance to the field you want to pursue in graduate school? Or in other words, is actually doing research and acquiring research experience...
  9. K

    Astro Physics Research for Undergrads

    Hey guys, I'm studying in my final year, physics as an undergraduate student, and we have to complete a research project for the finals. Our course length is 2 months. I'm deeply interested in astro physics and cosmology. Any new topics that i can consider as an research topic?
  10. G

    How difficult is it to get a research job in industry?

    I realize it's very hard to get a job in research at a university with a PHD in physics, but are there many jobs at private company for physicists? If I really wanted to do research in physics would it even be possible? Could i do research in a field like medical physics if a pure physics...
  11. A

    Schools Applying to Graduate School in Physics Education Research (3ish GPA)

    Due to switching majors during sophomore year, my Physics curriculum was pushed back and I am forced to have one more semester beyond my senior year to take 2 more Physics classes to finish my degree. Right now, I have a 3.21 overall GPA with a Physics GPA hovering dangerously above a 3.0. The...
  12. R

    Can anyone please direct me to a website showcasing some famous Research Papers?

    Hi! I'am young and am very excited about Physics. I would like to read the research papers written by famous physicists like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein. I have been looking for websites which feature these papers for free, but in vain. Can anyone please help me with a link toa...
  13. M

    Masters or Ph.D for a Research Career?

    I'm still in lower division so I know this is jumping the gun, but I wanted to ask this now while I still have time to ponder. Originally my end goal was to get a Ph.D because I want to do research ideally in astrophysics, although I'm well aware that jobs in this field are few and far...
  14. D

    Looking for research areas/topics accessible to a highschooler

    My high-school science department has decided to add an independent research course, which i will be interviewing for a position in later this week. I would love the opportunity, and to learn about research methodology, but I'm having a hard time coming up with an potential research areas that...
  15. S

    Question: Transitioning into another research field

    Hi everyone. This question is directed at those who either have completed their PhD in physics or is well on their way to completing their PhD. Given what I have read and heard about the lack of opportunities in physics in the US (both in academia and in independent research labs), I was...
  16. S

    Need Research Question Related to Multiverse (High School Level)

    I am new to this, but in desperate need of help. I'm doing the IB and in our final two years of school we are required to write an essay (extended essay) on one of our chosen subjects. I chose to write an essay on physics and my topic is parallel universes. However, I am really stuck as the...
  17. K

    Is Multiple Research Experience Necessary for Graduate School Applications?

    Hi all. I recently finished my sophomore year as a physics and math major. I'm doing well in my classes with all A's in every science and math course I have taken, except a B+ in Physics1 in my first semester of college. I have been working with a high energy physics group since the summer after...
  18. C

    Schools Research in field other than graduate school specialization?

    I know that undergraduate research is extremely helpful for graduate school, but how about research that was done in a field not directly related to what you're hoping to go to graduate school for? I'm looking at applying to PhD programs in Material Science/Materials Engineering this fall and...
  19. A

    What should I expect as a graduate student studying CFD combustion research?

    Hey everyone, I've got a question that been in the back of my mind for a few months now. Hopefully someone on this forum can provide me with some guidance. I just finished my undergraduate career in aeronautical engineering; I'll be starting graduate school this coming August. On a gut feeling...
  20. C

    What Are Good Self-Directed Research Topics for a Math Master's Graduate?

    I have a master's degree in math, and unable to work on my PhD at this time, I am continuing my studies on my own. I am looking for a project/question that I could work on at a masters level that might lead to original work. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or direction.
  21. I

    EE, BioE, Signals, and Research Projects

    Hi, I have a lot of considerations here, but I'm not entirely sure where to start. I switched from a BioE curriculum to an EE curriculum, recently, because most BioEs I knew were premed and I'd been worried about the curriculum not actually giving me any marketable skills, rather tons of...
  22. U

    Research in mechanical engineering- what is it all about(just general idea)

    Research in mechanical engineering-- what is it all about(just general idea) Hi, I'm a student of mechanical engineering and I'd like to do an MS degree following my undergrads. Up till now, I've had experience in only simulation based research i.e. during my final year project, my...
  23. A

    Programs PhD research in particle physics and cosmology - Any advice ?

    Hello everyone, I am a student in particle physics and cosmology in some Belgian university. I'll finish my master degree in June of this year. I am searching for PhD studentships in Europa or US, but it is very difficult to get a place somewhere. I applied to some universities, I'm still...
  24. K

    Research of next generation battery need which enginnering course?

    I really want to do research in battery after I finish my undergraduate engineering course. which engineering course should I choose so that I am well prepared to do research in battery? (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering) Thank you.
  25. M

    How to make a meaningful contribution in computational research?

    Hey, I will soon learn to code and would like to get a feel of how it's used in scientific research. I was thinking of using Python as it's used in physics a lot (apparently) and there are a lot of resources for it, even an OCW course. I know a prof who might be able to let me contribute a...
  26. M

    Help finding a research question

    Homework Statement For my IB course i have to write an Extended Essay, i will most likely be writing mine in physics (I take physics higher level). I have been having trouble coming up with some ideas on what i could write about, the essay should be 4,000 words max so i need a fairly beefy...
  27. A

    Getting out of Research Plans?

    Hi everyone, I'm hoping to get some advice from people who are more experienced in things like this. I am an undergraduate, freshman physics major, and I have made plans this summer to do research with my department. Of course it's not going to be anything too advanced, but I thought it was...
  28. R

    What is XFoil and How Does it Aid in Airfoil Design Research?

    Does anyone know of any types of research out there that attempts to establish analytical ways to design an airfoil. As far as I understand it right now, when someone wants to design an airplane they grab some premade airfoil shapes and test there design empirically using CFD or a wind tunnel...
  29. H

    Research articles available at an easier linguistic level?

    I'm a freshman who is going to declare biology as my major oin a few days (the first year was the common year). I'm interested in reading scholarly research articles focusing on important breakthroughs and current trends in biology. I wouold like to ask if someone knows a (or more than one) good...
  30. A

    Schools Undergraduate research in graduate school admission

    If I did theoretical research in a certain area of physics but applied to graduate school indicating interest in another area of theory, will that affect my chances?
  31. M

    Physics Research topics in Medical Physics

    Hi I graduated last summer with major physics and minor medical physics (minor includes 3 courses : Ionizing radiation, non-Ionizing radiation, radiation protection and a project in QA/QC ) I work now in medical physics department as a demonstrator which is a small one with few staff I...
  32. jbrussell93

    Should I continue with research?

    Some background: I first became interested in research in high school after doing a field biology research program. I did bird banding and some water quality work and absolutely LOVED it. I loved being outdoors, loved the teacher, loved the other students, and learned to love birds. This was...
  33. D

    Help with Research: Ideas for Extending Problem Results

    Hello all, I would like to start by saying that i new to this website and am not sure if this the exact category i should be posting this question in. I recently began studying a problem which can be best described as a variation on the hydrogen atom problem, where the electrostatic Coulombic...
  34. H

    Exploring TerraWatt Research: Innovative Alternative Energy Solutions

    This company's aim is to invent new sources of alternative energy I'd like to ask you all what do you think of their projects does it make sense? << crackpot links deleted by Moderators >> Tell me what you think do they have potential or just a false hope and dream?
  35. S

    How soon should I be looking for a research or internship position?

    I'm a freshmen going into summer with neither. Does this matter that much or should I just try that much harder next year to get one?
  36. A

    Research Topic: What would you choose?

    As a physics/comp sci double major, for my honors degree I have to partake in a year of directed independent research. I'm currently doing physics research in the field of cosmology, specifically the CMBR and optimizing scan strategies for asymmetric beam patterns. For my computer science...
  37. A

    Research Topic: What would you choose?

    As a physics/comp sci double major, for my honors degree I have to partake in a year of directed independent research. I'm currently doing physics research in the field of cosmology, specifically the CMBR and optimizing scan strategies for asymmetric beam patterns. For my computer science...
  38. E

    Advice on my first research presentation

    Hey, I was wondering if anyone had some last minute advice in preparing for a first presentation. I gave presentations in high school and freshman college lit classes and such, but I was never really concerned about embarrassing myself ^^;...usually nothing was all that important...so this is...
  39. B

    What is the status of research on gravitons and Higgs bosons?

    What is the present state of research on gravitons and Higgs bosons? How much has the research advanced?
  40. S

    Physics Experiment for high school physics relating to University physics research

    Hi I need to do a presentation at university; relating to high level physics research presented to final year high school students and it needs to include an experiment or demonstration Any ideas ? Experiments ?
  41. C

    Undergraduate research topic help?

    Hello everyone, I'm trying to start a new undergraduate research project. I have about 2 years to finish it, but honestly, I'm unsure as to what to do. Everything I really want to do is theoretical, but I need to design an experiment off of it, which would be tough. I was wondering if any of...
  42. R

    Physics research paper database

    In medicine and biology they have Medline which is a complete database of research papers---kind of a complete search engine of research papers in medicine and biology---which has free access to public. Is there anything comparable to this in physics---...
  43. J

    Courses Maximizing Medical Physics Program Admissions: Research vs. Courses?

    Hello all, I am entering my senior year preparing to apply to Medical Physics programs. I applied to some R.E.U.s for summer research, but was not fortunate enough to gain a position at any of them. I still have an opportunity to continue an independent study at my University's laser lab...
  44. H

    Schools I'm a Math/Operations Research major considering Graduate School for Business

    I haven't taken my graduate admission exam, but I'm not that worried about it. I really think I have the overall skills to do well. I was just curious: how hard it is to get into the grad schools for business after being a mathematics major with my emphasis in operations research? To be...
  45. W

    Hypothetical Planet in the Alpha Centauri System (Book research)

    I am writing a science fiction book that includes the idea of a planet orbiting within the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A and I'm hoping this is a good place to get some questions answered. It's science fiction, so I'm perfectly fine with stretching the limits of possibility, here, just...
  46. J

    Research that highschoolers could do during the summer.

    I've read in numerous places that most people applying to the higher education colleges for areas such as physics have already done some sort of research. I'm currently a freshman in high school and am looking to get into a top-notch college, but my main road block is getting started with...
  47. dkotschessaa

    Research in Math History? Publication?

    Ever since I (re)started my undergraduate mathematics studies I've been trying to get involved in some kind of research. Unfortunately it seems that most mathematics research is a bit out of reach for me until I get further along into my upper level classes. However, I have been taking a class...
  48. P

    Paid vs. Credit Research for Undergrads: Pros and Cons

    Is there any downside to doing academic research for pay vs. school credit as an undergrad? Say I have the option of either, if I choose to be paid will I still be able to ask my supervisor/mentor for a LOR even though I didn't take a "class" (research credit=course credit) with him? I...
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