Academic research

Academic Research

Academic research (pronunciation: /ˈakəˌdemik rɪˈsərCH/) is a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. It is a non-commercial, intellectual activity conducted by university or college students, professors, or researchers to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture, and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

Etymology

The term 'academic' originates from the Greek word 'Akademeia', referring to the community of students and scholars in the ancient city of Athens. 'Research', on the other hand, comes from the Old French 'recercher', which means 'to seek out' or 'search closely'.

Related Terms

• Empirical Research: Empirical research is research using empirical evidence. It is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience.

• Qualitative Research: Qualitative research relies on data obtained by the researcher from first-hand observation, interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, participant-observation, recordings made in natural settings, documents, and artifacts.

• Quantitative Research: Quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques.

• Primary Research: Primary research involves the collection of original primary data. It is often undertaken after the researcher has gained some insight into the issue by reviewing secondary research or by analyzing previously collected primary data.

• Secondary Research: Secondary research involves the summary, collation, and/or synthesis of existing research rather than primary research, where data is collected from, for example, research subjects or experiments.

• Experimental Research: Experimental research is any research conducted with a scientific approach, where a set of variables are kept constant while the other set of variables are being measured as the subject of an experiment.

• Longitudinal Study: A longitudinal study is a research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over short or long periods of time.

• Cross-sectional Study: A cross-sectional study involves the observation of a defined population at a single point in time or time interval.

• Case Study: A case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of a particular case.

• Literature Review: A literature review is a scholarly paper, which includes the current knowledge including substantive findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a particular topic.

• Peer Review: Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competences as the producers of the work.

• Publication: Publication is the act of producing and distributing literature or information.

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