Research is one of many lenses through which we seek knowledge and understanding of the world around us. There are many ways that people attempt to understand the world around them; however, research involves particular methods for learning new information. Research is a systematic process that is designed to collect, analyze, interpret, and use data (Mertens, 2005).
In order to better understand what research is and how it could benefit you in your academic or professional endeavors, let’s break down the definition of research a little further.
This means that research begins with a question and follows a methodical process to answer that question. The following pages will walk you through how researchers across different disciplines approach that process.