THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INQUIRY AND RESEARCH

Source: (https://www.edutopia.org/article/inquiry-and-research-process

Inquiry and research had somehow morphed into synonyms . “Can students do
research without inquiry, or inquiry without a formal research process?”
Inquiry

➢ Any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem.
A theory of inquiry is an account of the various types of inquiry and a treatment of the ways
that each type of inquiry achieves its aim

➢ The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or

questioning.

➢ Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research;

investigation

Research

➢ Research comprises "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of
knowledge

➢ Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, etc.;
laborious or continued search after truth.

➢ To make an extensive investigation into.

➢ To search again.

The main difference between Inquiry and Research is that the Inquiry is a process that has the
aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem and Research is a formal work
undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge

While research can certainly exist as a stand-alone process, inquiry should

ultimately drive students to view research as a means through which they can seek out new
ideas, answer new questions, and wrestle with complex problems.