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. H

    Physics Paying to Work? 24 Yr Old Physics Grad Struggling for Fulfillment

    Hello, I'll try to keep this quick and to the point. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I'm 24 years old now. I finished my physics B.S. last year. I studied in Utah and did research for my university for 8.50$ per hour. I've been living in poverty since I was 18 trying to become a...
  2. streeters

    Job Skills Any ideas on how I can develop research interests?

    I am starting a postdoc in Materials, and have spoken to a head of school about a planning for a 5 year fellowship after that will lead onto a lecturing role. Problem is, now I have to work out what I am going to be an expert in. How did you guys get your ideas for research interests? Was it...
  3. S

    Current physics PhD students & postdocs: area of research

    Hi everyone! I wanted to pose this question to those who PF members who are current PhD students or postdocs in physics. What area of physics research are you involved with? I tried to list out all areas of physics research that I'm familiar with, but I also created an "Other" category for any...
  4. A

    Research Project Ideas for First Year Astronomy Student?

    Hi, I am wondering what are some good ideas for a first year undergraduate science research project? I am majoring in Astronomy so am after some ideas. My special interests are Pluto, Black Holes and of course Planet X.
  5. N

    Other Volunteer research with professors - what am I doing wrong?

    Hello everyone, I am a potential graduate in Electrical Engineering. Being highly interested in doing research, I contacted several professors who lead research groups for possible research opportunities. I included my resume, but did not a transcript (my GPA is not spectacular) in my e-mails...
  6. Erebus_Oneiros

    Physics Advice before joining PhD research group, -- personal problems

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  7. C

    Programs Is It Appropriate to Email a Research Group Leader Directly as an Applicant?

    I applied to an undergraduate program at a nearby national lab that is tailored for students in the region. I was advised by one of the program staff to contact a research group that I'm interested in working with to let them know that I'm in the applicant pool, and that I am interested in...
  8. kiwaho

    B Is it legal to build a garage accelerator for hobby research

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  9. L

    Other Undergraduate research on gravitational waves

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  10. science_rules

    A Source for First Physics and Chemistry Research Papers?

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  11. L

    Other Research topics in Statistical Physics

    Currently I'm in the last year of the Physics course and I've been thinking about working in a project of undergraduate research, specifically in Statistical Physics. Two years ago I've already done a project like that in Fluid Mechanics combined with Gauge Theories and in that project I've...
  12. hideelo

    I Researching Causal Structure in Classical GR for Graduate Course

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  13. M

    A A fundamental question about research

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  14. PeterDonis

    Insights Why Won't You Look at My New Theory? - Comments

    PeterDonis submitted a new PF Insights post Why Won't You Look at My New Theory? Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  15. Haindi

    Physics Does the topic of undergraduate research matter?

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  16. jamalkoiyess

    Job Skills What is it like to work in research as a physicist?

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  17. O

    I What is Determinisitic Operations Research?

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  18. Nile Anderson

    Math Research Project Ideas Please

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  19. P

    Other Narrowness of field of research?

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  20. T

    Engineering Nuclear Engineering Career Opportunities as a PhD

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  21. Domenico94

    A Exploring Nonlinear PDEs: Trends and Challenges in Cancer Research

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  22. S

    Physics Why aren't there more research jobs without teaching?

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  23. D

    Research Opportunities: Post Bacc Programs for Resume Building

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  24. T

    New research or uses of diamond?

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  25. T

    Nuclear Engineering PhD or Physics PhD for research

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  26. U

    Is Robotics the All-Inclusive Field of Science and Engineering?

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  27. katatosh

    Help finding sources for research paper

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  28. R

    Suggestion for Research Project on Optical Nanoantenna

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  29. C

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  30. G

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  31. S

    How to spend my gap years meaningfully before undergrad?

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  32. nmsurobert

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  33. B

    Undergraduate Research Topics?

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  34. Imtiaz Ahmad

    How Can I Start Research in Physics with No Experience?

    I have no research work in physics but i want please help me what i do?
  35. M

    Undergraduate Senior Physics Research Topic (Theory)

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  36. T

    Loss of motivation when research becomes 9-5 job.

    I'm 6 months into a PhD (admittedly in Chemical Engineering, not physics, but my project has a modelling bent) and, as the title suggests, I've been struggling to find motivation day in and day out. It's silly: give me an interesting problem in a project not related to my work (say a math...
  37. Experience111

    Schools University of Washington A&A Master's degree

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  38. K

    Improve ways to recognise good research papers

    Hi everyone, good day to you. A friend and I think that the process of writing a papers (especially in sciences and maths) are rather troublesome due to the following reason: 1. Long journal review process 2. Selection of papers to be published are not transparent, a few negative reviews can...
  39. Gamma

    Where Can I Find Recent Scholarly Articles on Nano-Propulsion and Drug Delivery?

    Hi experts, I am looking for scholarly articles (recent ones are better) on (1) Nano-propulsion and (2) Drug Delivery for a project for a high school student. I searched the internet, but hard to find recent scholarly articles. I am ready to pay a small fee to download them if available. I...
  40. P

    Researching Topics in Art & Humanities: JSTOR, Pubmed & More

    Ive just recently "discovered" pubmed and it is so amazing. I want to know if there is a kind of "pubmed for art humanities" or any other subject for that matter? Or do humanities even publish papers like the science community does? FOr example, where can I read papers on linguistics, or...
  41. A

    Best journal to publish a research in classical mechanics?

    I think I have an interesting thing to say on the foundation of classical mechanics and I wonder what would be the best journals to submit a work on that topic.
  42. J

    I need some ideas in my Physics undergraduate research

    I am undergraduate physics student,and I want to become a theoretical physicist. I need some ideas about fields to look at it that can inspire me . I do not have specific field that I like the most in physics..so I need your help
  43. Anithadhruvbud

    How to do a research and obtain amazing results?

    Hey I am a high schooler and I wish to do a research that could actually prove useful to the society.The question is how do I do it and what's easiest way to do research at this point in my life like considering the fact that am still learning,should I only consider being a lab assistant and...
  44. N

    Write-up for Summer Research Programme

    Hello everyone I need to do a write up for VSRP 2016. The summer research programme at TIFR,India.I am interested in Physics programme. I have never done a write up so I am not sure what to write.They mention that I should explain my interest areas but discourage strongly to write equations.They...
  45. S

    Do research supervisors always want more students?

    Do research supervisors always want more student to supervise? Say some undergraduate student wants to do a research project for some professor for free with no course credit? Will a professor be always happy to take on that student?
  46. R

    Desiring to Enter Physics Research; Seeking advice

    Good day, ladies and gents. I am an Indian student of Electronics and Communications engineering currently studying in India. However, I wish to do research in a field of physics. I'm not sure at the moment of which one since the number of how many interest me is too numerous (however, if you...
  47. S

    Note organization for my research projects

    Hi all, I'm a researcher in mechanical engineering. I like taking note on every paper I read or the result of most of the analysis I carry out on my daily work. I use MS Onenote to type down notes and I believe it's a great tool. I'm searching for advices on the organization of notes. I'm...
  48. marcus

    Graph isomorphism problem-advance in complexity research

    There seems to have been a major step forward in complexity research. somebody wrote a pleasant understandable piece about it in Quanta magazine. https://www.quantamagazine.org/20151214-graph-isomorphism-algorithm/ I gave the title an "intermediate" tag because the graph isomorphism problem is...
  49. A

    Exploring Beyond the Standard Model: Current Research Topics in Physics

    Hello, I just wanted to know what some of the current hot topics in physics beyond the standard model are. What are some examples of specific research topics and how do they relate to a broader problem in physics?
  50. ZhaoT

    How to find an interesting research problem?

    Hello,every one I am now a Phd student on particle accelerators in China. My tutor's interest is on more engineering things like machine design and running, but I'm tired of arranging magnets. I want to do more research on new physics ideas instead of becoming one doing machine designs...
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