The word “research” originated from the old French word “researcher” meaning to search and search again.
It literally implies repeating a search for something and implicitly assumes that the earlier search was not exhaustive and complete in the sense that there is still scope for improvement.
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
It may be defined as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic/area. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.
The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English lays down the meaning of research as “a careful investigation or inquiry, especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge”. Redman and Mory define research as “a systematized effort to gain new knowledge”. Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from known to unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery.
Research is a scientific approach to answering a research question, solving a problem, or generating new knowledge through a systematic and orderly collection, organization, and analysis of information with the ultimate goal of making valuable research in decision-making.
Systematic research in any field of inquiry involves three basic operations:
1. Data collection: It refers to observing, measuring, and recording information.
2. Data Analysis: It refers to arranging and organizing the collected data so that we may be able to find out what their significance is and generalize about them.
3. Report writing: It is an inseparable part and a final outcome of a research study. Its purpose is to convey the information contained in it to the readers or audience.
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