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Canvas Content Repository: Introduction to Research

This box lives at How To Do Research

It is included on the in the Introduction to Research page of the Research Process Canvas Module

What is Research?

Research icons: checking the weather, asking questions, purchasing a car, fact checking, exploring recipes, and job hunting.Research is a systematic and iterative (repetitious) process of inquiry--asking questions, exploring existing knowledge, and creatively synthesizing (combining and analyzing) information to gain new insights.  When done well, it empowers us to make better decisions and enriches our understanding of the world.   

We engage in research every day:

  • Checking the weather
  • Verifying a social media post
  • Comparing car models before purchase
  • Investigating a company during a job search 

 

This box lives at How To Do Research

It is included on the in the Introduction to Research page of the Research Process Canvas Module

Research Across the Disciplines

Research icons indicating: financial, scientific, legal, literature, medical, patent, and research data.Research is part of academic and professional life.  Here are examples:    

  • Business: Conducting market research to verify the viability of a potential product; including consumer behavior, pricing, and competition.
  • Health Sciences: Synthesizing information from clinical trials and the medical literature to evaluate the effectiveness of a supplement or treatment.
  • History: Investigating primary sources such as diaries, newspaper articles, and eyewitness accounts to understand a historical event.  
  • Sciences: Studying a new pesticide for potential use in apple orchards.
  • Social Sciences: Evaluating the impact of a nonprofit program that supports people recovering from substance abuse.

RESEARCH TIP

The VSCS Libraries purchase materials to support the CCV and VTSU academic programs—the collection is customized to support you!

Key Takeaways

  • Research is built upon a process of inquiry--asking questions and gaining new knowledge. 
  • Research is a systematic, nonlinear, iterative (repetitious) process.  Often you'll need to take a step back and refine your research focus before moving forward.  
  • Research is part of everyday life (example: product research), academic life (example: research assignments), and professional life (examples: market research, clinical trials, and program evaluations).