Research

A Venn diagram picturing the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief (That is represented by the yellow circle).

Research is a careful hunting for facts or truth about a subject. It is an inquiry and investigation into the precedents, the evidence, and the logic. Different methods of research are appropriate for different topics or different levels of study. Students, for example, would consider an encyclopedia as an appropriate source for research, but professional historians would want to look at original documents. Scientific research generally involves lab work, where "social science" research tends to work with documents, artifacts, or "in the field" interviews.

Good researchers should always make sure they do not just parrot the source material's point of view, but that they try to find balanced points of view.

Importance of research

• Why is research important?
• Research and Its Importance for Daily Life Essay
• Benefits of Conducting Research, University of Illinois, Chicago
• The Importance of Research: Advancing Knowledge and Progress in Society
• Innovate, Adapt, and Lead with Research

General research skills

• What are research skills?
• Mastering Research Skills | Guide, Types & Tips
• Research Skills: What They Are and Why You Need Them
• Research skills, Indeed
• Research Skills: What They Are and How They Benefit You
• Reading and Research Skills, University of Gallaway
• Research Theories, ToolsHero.com

Books

• How to Do Research: and How to Be a Researcher by Robert Stewart. Oxford University Press. February 24, 2023
• The Craft of Research, Fourth Edition (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup and William T. FitzGerald. University of Chicago Press. October 18, 2016

Library research

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and serves as the research arm of the U.S. Congress.

• Library & Research Overview, Conrad Hilton Library
• Library Research at Cornell: The Research Steps, Cornell University
• Getting Started with Library Research, Cornell University
• The Library Research Process, Step-by-Step, University of Michigan
• 7 Steps to Effective Library Research, North Carolina Central University
• Research skills, LibraryGuides.com
• Library research skills, Georgetown University
• Library Research, Bingham University

Books

• The Oxford Guide to Library Research by Thomas Mann. Oxford University Press. February 27, 2015
• The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know by Mary W. George. Princeton University Press. September 14, 2008
• Research Methods in Library and Information Science (Library and Information Science Text Series) by Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Marie L. Radford. Libraries Unlimited. May 24, 2021

Academic research skills

33% of high school graduates never read another book the rest of their lives and 42% of college grads never read another book after college.

• 11 Tips to Improve Your Research Skills for Academic Success
• Organizing Academic Research Papers: Theoretical Framework, Sacred Heart University
• Why All Students Must Learn Academic Research (And How It Helps Them), Forbes

Journalist research skills

• How To Research Topics Like a Journalist, Writer's Digest
• The Ultimate Guide to Research Skills for Journalists
• Fact Checking and Research Skills in Journalism
• Online Investigative Journalist Manual
• Investigative Journalism Manuals

Scientific research

• Scientific method

Journal article:

• How to Conduct Scientific Research?, Nöro psikiyatri arşivi. 2017 Jun 1;54(2):97–98. doi: 10.5152/npa.2017.0120102

See also

• Evidence-based thinking
• Theory
• Scientific method
• Questioning skills
• Intellectual curiosity
• Lifelong learning