from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]