Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Research

society Maturity 11-13 Vital Level 3 Next article →

Research is a way to find new knowledge. It is an intentional search for facts and information.

Research design and evidence
Research design and evidence

Researchers collect and organize evidence to understand a topic better. They must be very careful to avoid mistakes or bias. Bias is when a person's own opinions change the results. This work can expand on things people already know. It can also test if old ideas are still correct.

Research cycle
Research cycle

There are many ways to do research. In science, people follow a step-by-step process. First, they observe something and pick a topic. Next, they make a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a testable prediction. They then gather data using special tools. After that, they analyze the data to see what it means. Finally, they interpret the results using tables or pictures.

Microscopy lab
Microscopy lab

The idea of seeking knowledge is very old. The word research comes from Middle French. It means "to go about seeking." The earliest recorded use of the word was in 1577. Long ago, the philosopher Aristotle helped develop the scientific method. He lived from 384 to 322 BC. This method helps people study the world in a systematic way.

Aristotle Altemps Inv8575
Aristotle Altemps Inv8575

Different people use research in different ways. Scientists might work in a lab or in the field. They might use a ship like the Sonne to study the sea.

RV Sonne 2014 1
RV Sonne 2014 1

Humanities scholars study things like history or culture. They look for context in social or political life. Artists also use research to gain new insights. They might use intuition to find new ways to create. Even writers do research to make their stories feel real.

Research helps us understand our whole world. Basic research aims to discover new things and develop new systems. Applied research uses that knowledge for practical jobs. It can be funded by charities or private groups. Some research is even about research itself. This is called meta-research. By studying how we learn, we can learn even better. This constant search keeps human knowledge growing every day.

328 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Aristotle Altemps Inv8575.jpg
Aristotle Altemps Inv8575.jpg
File:Microscopy lab.jpg
Microscopy lab.jpg
File:Alcator C-Mod.jpg
Alcator C-Mod.jpg
File:RV Sonne 2014 1.jpg
RV Sonne 2014 1.jpg
File:Jebens, Adolf - Leopold von Ranke (detail) - 1875.jpg
Jebens, Adolf - Leopold von Ranke...
File:Research design and evidence.svg
Research design and evidence.svg
File:Research cycle.svg
Research cycle.svg
File:NYC Public Library Research Room Jan 2006-1- 3.jpg
NYC Public Library Research Room Jan 2006-1- 3.jpg
File:Nature cover, November 4, 1869.jpg
Nature cover, November 4, 1869.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.