Research Facts for Kids

A sculpture called "Research holding the torch of knowledge" from 1896. It's at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Research is like being a detective! It's a careful way to find new facts and solve problems. When people do research, they start with what they already know and then try to learn even more. They might test old ideas to see if they are still true, or they might try to explain things they've seen in the world. Good research is always organized, planned, and fair.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" — Albert Einstein

What is Academic Research?
What is Scientific Research?
Key Ideas for Good Research
Steps in the Research Process
Different Kinds of Research
Sharing Research with the World
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What is Academic Research?

Academic research is often done by professors and scientists at universities. They spend a lot of time in labs or out in the field. They also read many books, scientific papers, and websites. After gathering information, they write down their conclusions.

Being a professor isn't just about teaching classes. A big part of their job is doing research. They often set up their own labs and hire people to help them. They also need to find money to pay for their research, often from different places. Universities often compete to get the best researchers because more research money means more prestige for the university.

What is Scientific Research?

Scientists doing research at a Microscopy Laboratory.

Scientific research uses the scientific method. This is a special way to understand how the world works. Scientists use it to learn about things like biology (living things), physics (how things move and energy works), and chemistry (what things are made of).

This kind of research helps us understand our world better. It also helps us discover useful new things. Money for scientific research often comes from governments, big companies, and charities. Sometimes, companies combine research with developing new products. This is called "research and development."

Key Ideas for Good Research

A research balloon flying above the planet Venus.

Any good research should follow some basic rules:

Systematic: This means it follows a clear plan. Researchers start with an idea or a question. Then, they collect information in a very organized way. This helps them change their ideas or add new knowledge. The scientific method is a systematic approach.
Organized: Everyone working on a research project uses the same rules. They agree on what words mean and how to measure things. This is why research is planned out in great detail.
Objective: The results of research must be based on facts. They should not be based on personal feelings or opinions. The conclusions should be fair and unbiased.

Steps in the Research Process

When you do research, you usually follow these steps:

First, you look at all the information that is already known about your topic.
Sometimes, you might build a physical model or use a computer model.
You then measure things related to what you are studying.
Next, you compare the results you found.
Finally, you try to understand what your results mean. You think about how they fit with what is already known. You also consider anything that might have affected your results.

Different Kinds of Research

There are two main types of research:

Basic research: This is also called "pure research." Its main goal is to simply understand nature better. It's about gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake.
Applied research: This type of research uses new knowledge to solve a specific problem. It aims to create something useful or improve something.

Sharing Research with the World

It's very important to share research findings. This way, everyone can learn from them. Scientists publish their work in special magazines called "journals." Some famous general science journals are Nature and Science. There are also many journals for specific science topics.