Editing Research (section)

{{short description|Systematic study undertaken to increase knowledge}}
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'''Research''' is [[creativity|creative]] and [[scientific method|systematic]] work undertaken to increase the stock of [[knowledge]].<ref>{{Cite book|doi = 10.1787/9789264239012-en|title = Frascati Manual|series = The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities|year = 2015|isbn = 978-9264238800|last1 = OECD|hdl = 20.500.12749/13290|url = https://eduq.info/xmlui/handle/11515/35750|author1-link = OECD|access-date = 4 April 2020|archive-date = 5 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200605123738/https://eduq.info/xmlui/handle/11515/35750|url-status = live}}</ref> It involves the collection, organization, and [[analysis]] of [[evidence]] to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of [[bias]] and [[error]]. These activities are characterized by accounting and controlling for biases. A research project may be an expansion of 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 (observation)|discovery]], [[interpretation (philosophy)|interpretation]], and the [[research and development]] (R&D) of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on [[epistemology|epistemologies]], which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. There are several forms of research: [[Science|scientific]], [[humanities]], [[artistic]], economic, [[social research|social]], business, [[marketing research|marketing]], [[practitioner research]], life, [[technological]], etc. The scientific study of research practices is known as [[metascience|meta-research]].

A '''researcher''' is a person who conducts research, especially in order to discover new information or to reach a new understanding.<ref>{{cite web |title=Researcher |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/researcher |website=Cambridge Dictionary |access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref> In order to be a social researcher or a [[social scientist]], one should have enormous knowledge of subjects related to social science that they are specialized in. Similarly, in order to be a natural science researcher, the person should have knowledge of fields related to natural science ([[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[biology]], [[astronomy]], [[zoology]] and so on). [[Professional association]]s provide one pathway to mature in the research profession.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sha |first=Mandy |date=2019-05-14 |title=Professional Association and Pathways to Leadership in Our Profession |url=https://www.surveypractice.org/article/8192-professional-association-and-pathways-to-leadership-in-our-profession |journal=Survey Practice |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.29115/SP-2018-0039 |doi-access=free}}</ref>