What is search? - Purpose of research (2023)

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The goal of research is to improve society by advancing knowledge through the development of scientific theories, concepts, and ideas. A research purpose is achieved by formulating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing results, drawing conclusions, translating the findings into real-world applications, and formulating new research questions.

what is the investigation

Put simply, research is the process of discovering new knowledge. This knowledge can be the development of new concepts or the advancement of existing knowledge and theories, leading to new understandings not previously known.

As a more formal definition of research, the following is extractedCode of Federal Regulations:

"Research is a systematic investigation (i.e. gathering and analyzing information) aimed at developing or contributing to generalizable knowledge."

What is search? - Purpose of research (1)

While research can be done by anyone and in any field, most research is generally done to advance knowledge in the physical, biological, and social worlds. This can range from why certain materials behave the way they do to why certain people are more resilient than others when faced with the same challenges.

The use of "systematic research" in the formal definition represents how research is typically conducted: a hypothesis is formulated, appropriate research methods are designed, data are collected and analyzed, and research results are summarized in one or more "findings". These research results are thenshared with the rest of the scientific communityto supplement existing knowledge and to serve as evidence for additional questions that can be explored. It is this cyclical process that allows scientific research to continuously evolve over the years; the real purpose of the research.

What is the purpose of the research

From predicting the weather to discovering antibiotics, researchers are constantly trying to find new ways to understand the world and how things work, with the ultimate goal of improving our lives.

The aim of the investigation is therefore to find out what is known, what is not known and what we can develop further. In this way, scientists can develop new theories, ideas and products that shape our society and our daily lives.

The aim of the research is to better understand the world and to learn how this knowledge can be used to improve everyday life. It is an essential part of problem solving.

While research can take many forms, there are three main purposes of research:

  1. Exploration:Exploratory research is the initial investigation conducted around a problem that is not yet clearly defined. Therefore, exploratory research is intended to provide a better understanding of the precise nature of the problem and not to provide a conclusive answer to the problem itself. This will allow us to do a deeper search later.
  2. Descriptive:Descriptive research expands knowledge about a research problem or phenomenon, describing it according to its characteristics and population. Descriptive research focuses on the "how" and the "what" but not the "why".
  3. Explaining:Explanatory research, also known as causal research, serves to determine the interaction of variables, i.e. to identify cause-effect relationships. Explanatory research addresses the "why" of research questions and is therefore often based on experimentation.

research functions

There are 8 main characteristics that every research project must have. Those are:

  • Empirically– based on proven scientific methods derived from real-life observations and experiments.
  • Logical– Follows sequential procedures according to valid principles.
  • cyclic– The investigation begins with a question and ends with a question, which means that the investigation must lead to a new question.
  • checked– Comprehensive measures to keep all variables constant except those examined.
  • based on assumptions– the research design generates data that sufficiently correspond to the research goals and can prove or refute the hypothesis. This makes the research study repeatable and gives credibility to the results.
  • Analytical– Data is generated, recorded and analyzed using proven techniques to ensure high accuracy and repeatability, minimizing potential errors and anomalies.
  • Goal– the investigator uses good judgment to ensure that the research results are valid.
  • statistical treatment– Statistical treatment is used to transform the available data into something more meaningful from which to glean insights.

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search types

Research can be divided into two main types: basic research (also known as basic research) and applied research.

Basic investigation

Basic research, also known as fundamental science, is a self-contained exploration of the reasons behind a particular process, phenomenon, or event. It focuses on generating knowledge around existing core principles.

Basic research is often referred to as "non-commercial research" because it does not focus on solving practical problems and offers no immediate benefit or application.

For example, a researcher may try to study the molecular structure of a material to better understand its behavior as it is not yet well understood.

Although basic research may not have direct applications, it often provides new knowledge that can later be used in applied research.

Applied research

Applied research examines well-known theories and principles in order to expand knowledge towards a practical goal. For this reason, applied research focuses on solving real-world problems and acquiring knowledge for immediate application.

For example, a person might do applied research to see if they can modify the molecular structure of a material to make it strong enough to be used in aircraft construction.

search methods

Research methods for collecting data fall into one of two categories: inductive methods or deductive methods.

Inductive research methods focus on analyzing an observation and are generally associated with qualitative research. Deductive research methods focus on testing an observation and are typically associated with quantitative research.

What is search? - Purpose of research (2)

qualitative research

Qualitative research is a method that allows the collection of non-numerical data through open methods, such asInterviews, case studies and focus groups.

It allows researchers to collect data about personal experiences, feelings or behaviors and the reasons behind them. For this reason, qualitative research is often used in fields such as the social sciences, psychology and philosophy, and other fields where it is useful to know the connection between what happened and why.

Quantitative investigation

Quantitative research is a method that collects and analyzes numerical data through statistical analysis.

It allows us to quantify variables, discover relationships, and make generalizations for a larger population. As a result, quantitative research is widely used in the natural and physical sciences such as engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, finance, and medical research, etc.

What does the search include?

Research generally follows a systematic approach known as the scientific method, conducted using an hourglass model.

A research project begins with a problem or the research purpose for participation in the study. This may take the form of 'scope of the study' Ö 'purposes and goals' of your search topic.

A literature search is then carried out and a hypothesis is formulated. The researcher then creates a research methodology and collects the data.

The data is then analyzed using various statistical methods and the null hypothesis is either accepted or rejected.

In both cases, the study and its conclusion are formally written as a report or research paper, and the researcher may also recommend additional research questions. The research paper or report is then shared with the wider research community and the cycle begins again.

While these steps describe the general research process, keep in mind that research projects are very dynamic and are therefore viewed as an iterative process with continuous refinements, rather than a series of fixed phases.

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