RESEARCH

Research can be defined as the search for knowledge or as any systematic investigation
to establish facts.

The primary purpose for applied research (as opposed to basic research)
Is d i s c o v e r i n g,i n t e r p r e t i n g, and the d e v e lo p m e n t of methods and systems for the
advancement of humank n o w le d g e on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world
and the universe.

Research can use the scientific method, but need not do so.

Scientific research relies on the application of the scientific method, a harnessing of

curiosity. This research provides scientific information and theories for the explanation of
then a t u r e and the properties of the world around us. It makes practical applications
possible. Scientific research is funded by public authorities, by charitable organizations
and by private groups, including many companies. Scientific research can be subdivided
into different classifications according to their academic and application disciplines.
Artistic research, also seen as 'practice-based research', can take form when creative
works are considered both the research and the object of research itself. It is the debatable
body of thought which offers an alternative to purely scientific methods in research in its
search for knowledge and truth.

Historical research is embodied in the scientific method.

Research is an active, diligent and systematic process of inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events,
behaviors, or theories, or to make practical applications with the help of such facts, laws or theories. The term "research"
is also used to describe the collection of information about a particular subject.

The word "research" derives from the Middle French (see French language) and the literal meaning is "to investigate
thoroughly".

Good: “It is a careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in technique and method according to the nature and
conditions of the problem identified, directed toward the clarification or resolution (or both) of a problem.”
Aquino: “Research is, simply, the systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic or problem. After a
careful, systematic search for pertinent information or data on a specific topic or problem and after the research worker
has analyzed and interpreted the data, he eventually faces another essential task – that of preparing the research report.”

Manual and Medel: “The process of gathering data or information to solve a particular or specific problem in a
scientific manner.”
Sanchez: “A systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of answering questions posed by the
researcher.”
Treece and Treece: “Research in its broadest sense is an attempt to gain solutions to problems. More precisely, it is the
collection of data in a rigorously controlled situation for the purpose of prediction or explanation

Generally, one can distinguish between basic research and applied research.

Basic research

Basic research (also called fundamental or pure research) has as its primary objective the advancement of knowledge and
the theoretical understanding of the relations among variables (see statistics). It is exploratory and often driven by the
researcher’s curiosity, interest or hunch. It is conducted without a practical end in mind although it can have unexpected
results that point to practical applications. The terms “basic” or “fundamental” research indicate that, through theory
generation, basic research provides the foundation for further, often applied research. Because there is no guarantee of
short-term practical gain, researchers often find it difficult to obtain funding for basic research.

Basic research asks questions such as:

  At what point in human history did logical thought arise?
 Are living organisms the rule or the exception?
 What is the mind-body connection?
 What is the specific genetic code of the oceanic whitetip?

Applied research

Applied research is done to solve specific, practical questions; its primary aim is not to gain knowledge for its own sake. It
can be exploratory but often it is descriptive. It is almost always done on the basis of basic research. Often the research is
carried out by academic or industrial institutions. More often an academic instituion such as a university will have a
specific applied research programme funded by an industrial partner. Common areas of applied research include
electronics, informatics, process engineering and applied science.

Applied research asks questions such as:

 How can Canada's wheat crops be protected from grasshoppers?

 What is the most efficient and effective vaccine against influenza?
 How can communication among workers in large companies be improved?
 How can the Great Lakes be protected against the effects of greenhouse gas?

There are many instances when the distinction between basic and applied research is not clear. It is not unusual for
researchers to present their project in such a light as to "slot" it into either applied or basic research, depending on the
requirements of the funding sources. The question of genetic codes is a good example. Unravelling it for the sake of
knowledge alone would be basic research – but what, for example, if knowledge of it also has the benefit of making it
possible to alter the code so as to make a plant commercially viable? Some say that the difference between basic and
applied research lies in the time span between research and reasonably foreseeable practical applications.

Research paper organization acquires much importance in the process of writing, as well as in the process of grading
your work by your professor. In this article you are welcome to find some useful tips in organizing your work – parts of a
research paper are presented here. So, don’t seek for any other sources of information, everything important concerning
research paper organization is available here.

Parts Of A Research Paper:

 Title page
 Dedication (optional)
 Preface (optional)
 Table of Contents (optional in short papers)
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and method
 Results
 Discussion
 Bibliography
 Appendix (optional)

Title page:

1. Select an informative title

2. Include the following material in the order given:

 Title of paper
 Secondary title (optional)
 Full name of author
 Submission statement
  Date submitted.

The Preface:

If the author wishes he may explain his topic choice and share his interest in the field studied

The Table of Contents (optional in short papers):

In a long research paper, a table of contents should go on a separate page titled TABLE OF CONTENTS. It should contain,
with the page number:

 The title of each chapter or division, followed by the title of each important subdivision
 The appendix, if the paper has it
 The bibliography

Abstract:

It is a short (up to 200 words) summary of the entire work. It should include:

 Purpose of the study

 Brief description of the work
 Results, including specific data
 Important conclusions of research paper or questions

It is usually written when the rest of the paper is completed. It allows the reader to learn the essentials of the study in a
short period of time.
 
Basic rules:

 economy of words
 complete sentences
 a single concise paragraph
 writing in a past tense
 corrrect spelling, clear sentences and phrases, proper reporting of quantities
 stands on its own, doesn’t refer to any other part of the paper
 focuses on summarizing results

Introduction:

Has three main purposes:

 provides background and motivation for the topic

 describes the focus and purpose of the paper
 gives an overview of what is contained in the paper’s various sections.

Basic rules:

 up to two pages (double spaced, typed)

 usage of a past tense except when referring to established facts
 one major point in organizing ideas with each paragraph
 precise statements

Materials and Method:

This section gives the reader enough information to study the subject and to use your materials in his own work if
desired. Here you describe what you did, the way you did it, present precise facts, your work is based on.

Basic Do’s and Don’t’s:

 be as concise as you possibly can

 use third person passive voice.
 use complete sentences.
 avoid informal lists

Results:

This section proves your views with the data. The page length depends on the amount and type of the information to be
reported. The purpose of the section is to demonstrate the results of your investigation

Basic rules:

 use past tense

 put the results in a logical order
 refer to each figure as “figure 1,” “figure 2,”; number your tables
 each figure and table stands on its own
 do not include raw data or intermediate calculations in your paper
 do not present the same information more than once

Discussion:

The main purpose of this section is to explain why the results came out as they did, focusing on the principles of the
investigation.

Basic Rules:

 the limit is up to five typed double-spaced pages

 use past tense referring to work done by specific individuals and present tense referring to generally accepted
facts and principles
 present the data in appropriate depth

Bibliography:

 list the items in an alphabetical order, by first author

 don’t include a website as a reference
 citing an on -line journal, use the journal citation

Appendix (optional):

Sometimes it may serve as a valuable addition to a research paper. It might contain a letter, a map, a table — i. e.
materials, that are important to the reader, but they didn’t find their place in the text itself

 Note that research paper parts are to be found in the text in the same order they were presented here.
 Please, pay much attention to research paper organization, keeping to the rules studied, and impress your tutor
with results of your work.