Dictionary.com defines research as a “diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.” Although this may be the true definition, there is so much more to research than just this. Research looks at a particular subject area from many different points of view, possibly quite different from the researchers. It is not just reading about a subject extensively. It is getting to know that subject inside and out.

Most people think of research as a boring, monotonous type of project. However, we research almost every day without realizing it. Any time a person looks up something on the internet or reads an article on a particular subject in a magazine, he is researching. Anytime someone learns something new from the internet or reading, it is research.

Research is what we do when we have a question we want answered or a problem we need to have solved. We read up on that particular problem. We experiment with different solutions to see what works best. There really is no right or wrong way to research. It is whatever works best for the individual performing that research. Research is our way of learning new things.