Research Definition and 998 Threads

Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of information to increase understanding of a topic or issue. A research project may be an expansion on past work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research may replicate elements of prior projects or the project as a whole.
The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, and the research and development (R&D) of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies, which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. There are several forms of research: scientific, humanities, artistic, economic, social, business, marketing, practitioner research, life, technological, etc. The scientific study of research practices is known as meta-research.

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  1. N

    Exciting new areas of research?

    Hey! I am going to choose my specialization soon in my engineering physics degree, but I am very uncertain on what I want to do. Only thing I know is that I want to work on something cutting edge. So what areas of science and tech do you find exciting, and why? Do you know anything about...
  2. V

    Worried about my engineering research project.

    I'm in my fourth year of undergrad engineering and next term I have nothing except for a research project. I've always done very well in exams but I'm worried that my grade for this project will be much lower than usual and I'll be exposed as an exam passer (which I basically am since I don't...
  3. ShayanJ

    Choosing the research area in physics

    I want to know how people usually choose their area of research?Is it just interest?What about choosing between areas which are all of your interest? I know,it may seem weird for an undergrad to ask that,but I think its the time for me to decide on it.Because I started studying physics when I...
  4. Doofy

    Coming up with research proposals as a first-time postdoc applicant?

    So I'm in the final year of my PhD and will need to find a job soon. I don't feel strongly either way about whether I'll stay in physics or leave it for a "normal" job, but I've been browsing around looking for postdoc positions recently. I've seen places advertising for applications comprised...
  5. A

    Advice on research and being competitive

    Hi everyone, I am finishing up my first semester of my Masters program in Physics. I got my bachelors in Math. It's been very hard, but so very rewarding this semester. I don't go to a top school, but i feel like I'm getting a great education here. I'm the only female too, which makes me...
  6. interhacker

    Can a Research Paper on Classical Physics make it to a good journal?

    I am starting University in September, 2014. I have some knowledge already on classical mechanics as I took optional Applied Math courses (called Mechanics 1 and Mechanics 2) in my mathematics A-Level. I am also self-studying the book Classical Mechanics by Goldstein, Poole and Safko to gain a...
  7. T

    Why does gravitational wave research get DoD funding?

    Question in the subject. I have no idea what the DoD's interest is in this. Sorry is this is the wrong forum.
  8. A

    What is the point of academic research in majors like English?

    So I looked at some of the research in a couple of literature journals. One of the several similar articles found was a 50 page analysis on a comic: Persepolis. What's the point though? You're putting in more work than the author did, to do an analysis of a comic book. The author doesn't care...
  9. Ascendant78

    Getting involved in physics research in 3rd year as a transfer?

    I will be finishing my AA this spring and transferring to a bigger college in fall to finish my BS. Since I will be new to that college, I am wondering what my chances are of being able to get involved in research? The people I spoke to at the two colleges I'm looking at for fall have been...
  10. P

    Research interest, career plan, academic goal for REU

    Hello all, I'm a Mathematics and Physics major, currently in my junior year. Being an international student, it is extremely hard for me to find summer REU, so I could only find around 9 places. Even so, they only say that they MIGHT accommodate around 1-2 internationals. As such, I want to...
  11. S

    Research Proposal Help for PhD in Mathematical Physics

    Hi I intend to apply for a PhD in Mathematical physics My question is how does one write a research proposal without an in-depth understanding of the subject or its research possibilities. Can I ask the potential supervisor for assistance in writing it thank you
  12. maverick_starstrider

    Talking to HR representatives when interviewing for a research posn

    Hi All, I've got an upcoming "chat" with an HR representative for a research position at an industry research facility. I am a computationalist and I think I would love the position. However, the specific numerical methods they work with (being more based on finite-element methods) are...
  13. schrodingerscat11

    Tips in finding a research topic

    Hello everyone. I'm a first year MS Physics student and I can't think of a research topic. :confused: I hope to start next year in my research (I'm still doing coursework and teaching right now.) Any tips on how to start on something? I don't want to continue my research in undergrad...
  14. F

    Schools Subpar GPA; Aspirations for Grad School and cross discipline research

    Hello everyone, I am currently in my third semester at Rutgers University with a declared major in Physics. I aspire to do post-baccalaureate studies. However, my GPA is just "average." I have read through threads where the OP is in a similar situation to mine, and I have found a lot of...
  15. T

    Schools How important is your grad school research to future positions?

    For example, I want to work on quantum gravity and things like Brane cosmology (but not necessarily string theory). I'm really interested in sinking my teeth into differential geometry, general relativity, the shape of the universe, stuff like that. But if I were to go to a grad school that...
  16. deedsy

    Exploring Alternative Energy Research: A Beginner's Guide

    Hello all, in your opinion, what alternative energy has the greatest potential for employment (solar, nuclear, etc)? I'll have a B.S. in environmental science and physics, and alternative energy research seemed like a nice way to combine the two. I'm aware more advanced education will likely be...
  17. T

    Can you do research in your spare time?

    I'm in year 12 and I will be studying math and physics next year. I love physics and I'm hoping to do a PhD in the future. Let's say I make it that far, the job prospects are terrible. If I end up having to get a job in finance or something, will I be able to do research in my spare time? You...
  18. Abscissas

    What is the Current Understanding of Monopoles in Physics?

    Homework Statement I am looking for reliable sources with decent information on monopoles, this is a freshman research paper. I am just looking for books websites and any useful information on the topic. thank you Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I've gone to the...
  19. B

    Finding work to do research on

    As an undergraduate, how does one generally go about searching for summer research positions? I am interested in applying to a much wider range than the programs my school offers, so does anyone know how or where I might perform a search for opportunities to do research? Thanks! BiP
  20. I

    Exploring Protein Folding and Disease: A Bioinformatics Thesis Journey

    I am thinking about the process to pick up a thesis for a bioinformatics like this 1. State what I want: I would like to do a research about protein folding 2. State what can be done with it: A lot, but I will concentrate on its structure and a specific disease related to human beings. 3...
  21. B

    Alcubierre Warp Drive Physics Research

    Alcubierre Warp Drive With Rings Story Research I'm writing a new section in my science fiction novel and need a little help with the science of it. So, the general idea of the Alcubierre Warp Drive is that with 65 exajoules you can create a warp bubble by expanding spacetime behind you and...
  22. I

    Help with statistical technique for research

    I am supposed to do an experimental report in my Social Psychology class. I am analyzing the factors affecting the lack of females in engineering and other math-intensive fields. I measured men and women's life interests, life values and attitudes to gender roles in our survey because I think...
  23. I

    Need to write a research proposal

    Hey guys, I have to write a research proposal for one of my modules (Reseach Methods) this year, I don't actually have to do the research. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for topics or areas that would be good to look into?
  24. Y

    Unpublished research and job interviews

    I'm doing my masters in engineering, and I have a job interview tomorrow. They've asked me to prepare a presentation of my research for the interview. The thing is, the PhD student I've been working with has asked me not to share the information with anyone else since not all of it has been...
  25. D

    Importance of research experience matching with Interests

    Hi, I thought about what I wanted to ask and decided to rewrite my question more concisely. Has anyone had any experience with an applicant to physics grad school, who applied in a field almost totally unrelated to his undergrad research? Particularly, in applying to high-end schools? Any...
  26. S

    Summer Research Ideas in Lasers/Laser Cooling

    Hello, I am a final Year undergrad in B.Sc in Electronics. I am going to apply for a Summer Research (2months period )in Lasers in other institutions and I am thinking to work on Laser Cooling. I have to specify a short, innovative project idea. I have gone through courses in Quantum...
  27. E

    Does Research Exist on Biological Neural Network Chips?

    I have seen articles dealing with the growth of brain cells using stem cells. I have also seen, in the past, research attempting to mimic neural connections (using traditional silicon chips) for use in computing. I have searched for any mention of research into using actual living brain cells...
  28. X

    The research around me doesn't make sense

    Hi All, So, I'm in grad school for systems. to me, the whole point of systems is hardware agnosticism. You get to discuss solutions to problems ( related to dynamical systems ) without restricting the discussion to one type of hardware (like motors and or circuits, even though that could be a...
  29. P

    Schools Research and Nuclear Engineering Grad School?

    I posted a question a while back on medical physics and got great feedback so I'm back again in with another dilemma... I spent the summer doing med physics research and I liked the radiation physics and computational aspects of it quite a bit. I'd like to apply for grad school in nuclear...
  30. Greg Bernhardt

    News War on drugs failing, research suggests

    http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/01/world/war-on-drugs-failing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 Can anyone find the original study article? [edit: linked on post 3]
  31. L

    How has CMB research affected modern technology

    So for my physics class, we are trying to find modern applications for different areas of research. I know the HST had a lot of help in the areas of breast cancer research and eye surgery but what are some applications for modern technology that have stemmed from cosmic microwave background...
  32. Hercuflea

    Can one move from fission to fusion research after PhD?

    Hi everyone, I am currently applying to graduate schools in nuclear engineering. I am applying to some top 10 schools and also some lower ranked ones as safeties. However, my fear is that if I am not accepted to a top ten school I will have to attend the safety schools. I am not particularly...
  33. H

    CAMPEP accredited graduate program and x-ray phase-imaging research

    Hi, Last week I finished M.Sc. degree in Medical Physics. Now I'm pondering what to do next. I have a few questions mainly for Medical Physicsists or Medical Physics Residents: 1. Recently I got very interested in reasearch in the area of the X-ray phase-contrast imaging (PCI). As far as I...
  34. M

    Schools Grad school for the PGRE challenged: How to make my research count?

    Hi guys and gals, first post here, but I've lurked here before but just now registering and posting I'm getting ready to apply for my graduate schools. I'm not sure what exactly I'm seeking, so I want to provide a little background. I've always been a tinkerer, ever since I was young I've...
  35. T

    Schools Doing Research as a community college student at a local University

    I just found out if I want to transfer to a UC I will have to take 3 years at my local community college. Is it reasonable to go talk to professors at the local university (Cal Poly SLO) and see if I could do research with them? I do not really have much to offer them other than a dedicated...
  36. V

    Current standing of qubit research

    Good day everyone, I apologize if this is not the correct forum; in some way it is a homework question but not of the ordinary form. This semester I will be writing a ~3000 word paper on the topic of the current standing in qubit research, where I will be describing and comparing various...
  37. R

    What is doing physics research like?

    Hi. I'm going to be a freshman at UCLA. I like physics and it is my major, but I'm considering changing to computer science, but I hate doing experiments and taking down data and all that stuff that you do in high school. Is doing physics research like that in undergraduate and graduate school...
  38. P

    Simultaneous physics research projects

    I am currently doing research for credit with two professors (separately), one in theoretical particle and the other in experimental atomic/molecular. I have an interest in both, however I think that one may increase in time commitment and make me unable to perform both simultaneously. Does...
  39. L

    Best Laptop for Programming and Research on a Budget

    So I am a sophomore Astronomy and Physics student looking for a powerful laptop to do programming and to help me with research. I would like it to support things like Python, MATlab, LaTeX, Mathematica, LabVIEW, anything for astronomy, but relatively lightweight and has HDMI, Blu-Ray, high...
  40. J

    What are the expectations for authorship when using a forum for research help?

    Hi there, I'm a first year PhD student and was going to ask the forum for some advice on some maths (specifically Fourier) that will be used in my work. However, I wanted to know what the forum/general policy is on what happens should this work ever be published. Would a forum contributor be...
  41. C

    Charlie Johnson: Finding Research Area for PhD Programs

    Hello PF community, My name is Charlie Johnson. I just graduated from Stanford where I did a B.S. in Engineering Physics. I am studying for the Physics GRE and planning to apply to PhD programs this Fall. I have many interests both in and outside of school, and so I find it difficult to choose...
  42. S

    Research paper citation question.

    Does anyone know what citation I should use for an academic paper in biochemistry?(like MLA, ALA, or what?)
  43. S

    Research paper citation question.

    Does anyone know what citation I should use for an academic paper in biochemistry?(like MLA, ALA, or what?)
  44. B

    Research topics in Variable stars

    Hey, I am an undergraduate physics & astronomy student. I am looking for a good research topic to work on for this semester. I have access to a .5 m telescope in Louisville, Ky (38 deg N), a .5 m telescope, and possibly another with a built in spectroscopy as well as photometry capabilities...
  45. N

    Is Pursuing Research Abroad a Good Option for IIT Aspirants?

    is it good to go for research i m currently in India preparing for iit and want go research doing MS must i be in foreign or ... is there scope in research
  46. U

    Schools Starting off research in grad school

    Hi, I'm starting off grad school this fall. My adviser mailed me some published papers that have been written by our group. I've been through them, and although I understand the basic idea, I don't understand many of the formulas and theories used. Is this normal? Usually, how do people start...
  47. A

    Fund Your Research: Physicists, Build Your Business & Reach Your Goals

    As a physicist... Would you like to fund your own research? Lets say that you are a brilliant physicist—applies to any scientists in general—and working on a research while running a business, and you have the ability to fund and build laboratories. I want to hear what people think of that...
  48. A

    Research topics and nanotechnology.

    Can someone elaborate on E.E research topics and current-active research programs? I have read about photonics, optical computing, quantum computing and semi-conductors. I plan on doing a project and small research on an undergraduate level. I tried to do a research on tokamaks and confining...
  49. N

    Programs Physics major for technology research?

    If I majored in physics would I have the qualifications to work with technology? I like physics very much and sometimes want to research but mostly I want to work with technology and find ways to make it better. Is it smart to think of a major in physics and maybe double major or minor? Or...
  50. N

    Physics Can physicists apply their own research?

    If I was a physicist and did research on superconductors can I apply it and make a product or a prototype on my own?
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