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 and the literal meaning is “to investigate thoroughly”.

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


See also: science, research rapture, empirical research, truth, philosophy of science, operations research, Medical Scientism, marketing research, social research, agricultural research, psychological research methods, statistics