Research is part and parcel of academic life. It is what trains students to foster critical thinking and analytical skills. This process also enables them to gain a solid grasp of the field of study that they pursued. In addition, depending on the quality of research a student prepares, they can make valuable contributions to their field of study. To help you further understand what academic research is and what it entails, below is an in-depth explanation of its definition.
Academic Research is defined by the father of the United States space program: Werner von Braun
Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing?”
Another definition of research :
Systematic investigation into a problem or situation, where the intention is to identify facts and/or opinions that will assist in solving the problem or dealing with the situation
The definition from the Cambridge English dictionary:
Research: a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding
Another realistic and practical adage for defining the research process for a PhD
A PhD is about finding out more and more about less and less until one eventually knows everything about nothing (Anon.)
Other definitions of academic research includes:
With the definition of academic research detailed, you can now start the endeavor. However, keep in mind that this process takes up time and focus so it is important to prepare yourself by understanding the steps you need to take to complete your research.
For instance, you may want to learn more about what is research design as well as how to create a thesis statement, and how to perform cursory research on a topic you are interested in. Moreover, you may also want to brush up on the different levels of evidence in research. With this information at hand, you can ensure a seamless academic research process in the long run.
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