Definitions of research:

There are several definitions of research, proposed by famous authors and scholars of their time.
You will find out that the basic meaning and the context of these definitions are same. The
difference between these definitions lies only in the way the author has undertaken research in
his discipline.
1. Research comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the
stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock
of knowledge to devise new applications.[1]
2. Scientific research is a systematic way of gathering data, a harnessing of curiosity. This
research provides scientific information and theories for the explanation of the nature and the
properties of the world. It makes practical applications possible. Scientific research is funded by
public authorities, by charitable organizations and by private groups, including many companies.
Scientific research can be subdivided into different classifications according to their academic
and application disciplines. Scientific research is a widely used criterion for judging the standing
of an academic institution, such as business schools, but some argue that such is an inaccurate
assessment of the institution, because the quality of research does not tell about the quality of
teaching (these do not necessarily correlate totally).[2]
3. A broad definition of research is given by Martyn Shuttleworth In the broadest sense of the
word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the
advancement of knowledge.[3]
4. Another definition of research is given by Creswell who states that Research is a process of
steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. It
consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an
answer to the question.[4]
Note: these definitions of research are taken from Wikipedia, but only actual sources for these
definitions have been mentioned here (the sources from where Wikipedia got this information).
You can check for more definitions on Wikipedia.

References:
1. OECD (2002) Frascati Manual: proposed standard practice for surveys on research and
experimental development, 6th edition. Retrieved 27 May 2012 from
www.oecd.org/sti/frascatimanual
2. J. Scott Armstrong and Tad Sperry (1994). Business School Prestige: Research versus
Teaching. Energy & Environment 18 (2): 1343.
3. Shuttleworth, Martyn (2008). Definitions of Research. Explorable. Explorable.com.
Retrieved14 August 2011.
4. Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating
quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Creswell (2002) noted that quantitative research is the process of collecting, analyzing,
interpreting, and writing the results of a study, while qualitative research is the approach to data
collection, analysis, and report writing differing from the traditional, quantitative approaches.

Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our
understanding of a topic or issue. It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to
answer the question, and present an answer to the question.

"Penyelidikan adalah proses langkah-langkah yang digunakan untuk mengumpulkan dan

menganalisis maklumat untuk meningkatkan pemahaman kita tentang topik atau isu". Ia terdiri
daripada tiga langkah: Pose soalan, kumpulkan data untuk menjawab soalan, dan tunjukkan
jawapan kepada soalan tersebut.

Penyelidikan adalah proses yang digunakan untuk mengumpul dan menganalisis maklumat bagi
meningkatkan kefahaman kita tentang sesuatu topic atau isu.

Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative

and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson.