What is Research?

There are many definitions of research, and most of them share a common theme: research begins by asking a question that is complex enough to necessitate a plan for finding answers.

We all ask questions everyday. This morning you might have asked your partner if they wanted you to buy some coffee for them, and maybe they said, “Yes.”  Later, the attendant at the store asked if you wanted a receipt. You did not want the receipt, so you replied, “No, thank you.” These are both simple questions that don’t require much of a plan to answer.

But what if you had asked your partner: “What is the best kind of coffee?” If you take that question seriously in your household, you may need to form a plan for inquiry through research. What is meant by “best?” How might you determine what flavors are best or what brands have the most ethical practices for growing coffee? Or treating the planters and pickers and land itself fairly?

So, we engage in research when we make a plan to answer a somewhat nuanced or complicated question. Part of developing a research plan involves finding out what may already be known about the question or what is known about related questions.

What answers already exist? We live, they say, in the Information Age.  Whenever we ask a question, we are asking it in an ecosystem of interconnected people who may have similar questions.  Your question may be unique, but similar questions may have already been asked, researched, and answered.

Do answers change? One thing about existing answers, though, is that they aren’t static. Even when we have what seems to be a settled question, new information may be discovered that makes us rethink our previous questions and answers. Your partner might believe that dark chocolate, cherry-flavored coffee is the best coffee flavor available. But if you take them on a coffee tasting tour in New Orleans next fall, they may discover a new favorite flavor (and maybe even fall in love with pumpkin spice). For now, they may think the matter is settled, but it may not be.

Can research help? The world is always changing. If I ask, “Which country is the happiest country in the world?” the answer may change at any time if the happiest country in the world experiences an unexpected flood, drought, or another unexpected disaster, for example. Being aware that answers are often temporary and conditional is an important part of research. Answers are usually never finalized because knowledge changes around us at a moment’s notice. Research can help us answer complex questions with the information available to us now, but it is good to think about how new information can lead to different answers.