Research

Research
Research Re*search" (r?-s?rch"), n. [Pref. re- + search: cf OF. recerche, F. recherche.] 1. Diligent inquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; laborious or continued search after truth; as, researches of human wisdom; to research a topic in the library; medical research. [1913 Webster]

The dearest interests of parties have frequently been staked on the results of the researches of antiquaries. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2. Systematic observation of phenomena for the purpose of learning new facts or testing the application of theories to known facts; -- also called {scientific research}. This is the research part of the phrase ``research and development'' (R&D).

Note: The distinctive characteristic of scientific research is the maintenance of records and careful control or observation of conditions under which the phenomena are studied so that others will be able to reproduce the observations. When the person conducting the research varies the conditions beforehand in order to test directly the effects of changing conditions on the results of the observation, such investigation is called {experimental research} or {experimentation} or {experimental science}; it is often conducted in a laboratory. If the investigation is conducted with a view to obtaining information directly useful in producing objects with commercial or practical utility, the research is called {applied research}. Investigation conducted for the primary purpose of discovering new facts about natural phenomena, or to elaborate or test theories about natural phenomena, is called {basic research} or {fundamental research}. Research in fields such as astronomy, in which the phenomena to be observed cannot be controlled by the experimenter, is called {observational research}. {Epidemiological research} is a type of observational research in which the researcher applies statistical methods to analyse patterns of occurrence of disease and its association with other phenomena within a population, with a view to understanding the origins or mode of transmission of the disease. [PJC]

Syn: Investigation; examination; inquiry; scrutiny. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • research — re‧search [rɪˈsɜːtʆ, ˈriːsɜːtʆ ǁ ɜːr ] noun [uncountable] 1. study of a subject to find out new things about it or to test new ideas, products etc: • A leading pharmaceutical company will finance the research. • What sets us apart from the rest… …   Financial and business terms

  • Research*eu — est un magazine européen dédié à la recherche scientifique dans la communauté européenne. Il est publié en anglais, français, allemand et espagnol et est édité par l unité communication de la DG Recherche de la commission européenne. Son… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Research*eu — ist der Titel des Magazin des Europäischen Forschungsraums, das die die Europäische Kommission in vier Sprachausgabenn, nämlich auf deutsch, englisch, französisch und spanisch herausgibt. Unter dem alten Namen FTE info Magazin über Europäische… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • research*eu — magazine de l espace européen de la recherche Langue Publié en français, anglais, allemand et espagnol Périodicité Dix numéros par an Rédacteur en chef …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Research eu — research*eu ist der Titel des Magazins des Europäischen Forschungsraums, das die Europäische Kommission in vier Sprachen, nämlich auf Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch und Spanisch herausgibt. Unter dem alten Namen FTE info – Magazin über… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • research — ► NOUN ▪ the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. ► VERB 1) carry out research into. 2) use research to discover or verify information to be presented in (a book, programme, etc.).… …   English terms dictionary

  • research — [rē′sʉrch΄, ri sʉrch′] n. [MFr recerche < recercher, to travel through, survey: see RE & SEARCH] [sometimes pl.] careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or… …   English World dictionary

  • research — I noun analysis, careful search, close inquiry, eruditio, examination, experimentation, exploration, factfinding, indagation, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, inspection, investigation, observation, probe, pursuit, quest, questioning,… …   Law dictionary

  • research — 1570s, act of searching closely, from M.Fr. recerche (1530s), from O.Fr. recercher seek out, search closely, from re , intensive prefix, + cercher to seek for (see SEARCH (Cf. search)). Meaning scientific inquiry is first attested 1630s. Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • research — [n] examination, study analysis, delving, experimentation, exploration, factfinding, fishing expedition*, groundwork, inquest, inquiry, inquisition, investigation, legwork*, probe, probing, quest, R and D*, scrutiny; concepts 349,362 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

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