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Sunday, January 1, 2012

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESEARCH, SEARCH, AND RE-SEARCH


          The very first question which comes to our mind is about the difference between Research and Search.
Generally speaking, “SEARCH” means looking for something, and by “RESEARCH” we may say it as looking into something. When we use concept of research in an academic activity, it involves both. Researchers not only find the missing links in their thoughts and so called hypothesis, but they also look into the matter to discover the justifications for their outputs.


          According to the definition given in dictionary.com, viewed on January 1, 2012, "Research is a diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc."

          The word Re-Search is the repetition of the search activities, and it is different from the word Research.

          Definition given by Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, in their book “Practical Research Planning And Design", 8th edition; “Research is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information(data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are interested or concerned..” They also included following eight distinct characteristics about research project:
  1. Research originates with a question or problem.
  2. Research requires clear articulation of a goal.
  3. Research requires a specific plan for proceeding.
  4. Research usually divides the principal problem into more manageable sub problems.
  5. Research is guided by the specific research problem, question, or hypothesis.
  6. Research accepts certain critical assumptions.
  7. Research requires the collection and interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve the problem that initiated the research.
  8. Research is, by its nature, cyclical or, more exactly, helical.

          In my opinion, Research is a set of independent strategies to expand knowledge. These strategies are taken up by individuals and groups in order to reach some acceptable conclusions. Each conclusion becomes hallmark in the journey of intellectual development.
(Author: Muhammad Azeem)