What is Research? Definitions & Real-Life Relevance in Social Sciences and Business
📘 What is Research? Definitions & Real-Life Relevance in Social Sciences and Business
🧠 Understanding the Term “Research”
The word “research” originates from the Old French word recercher, which means “to seek out, to search closely.” In modern academia and practice, research refers to a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to answer a question or solve a problem.
But research is not limited to laboratories and statistics. In the world of social sciences and business, it helps us:
Understand consumer behaviorDesign social policiesMeasure employee engagementExplore social change and cultureEvaluate market trends and decisions📚 Definitions from Experts
Let’s look at how some respected scholars and institutions define research:
“Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypotheses, collecting, organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusions, and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.”
“Research is an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison, and experiment.”
🔹 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
“Research and experimental development comprise creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge.”
🧩 Characteristics of Good Research
✅ Systematic – Follows a clear plan and structure
✅ Objective – Free from personal bias or emotions
✅ Empirical – Based on observed and measured phenomena
✅ Replicable – Can be repeated to verify results
✅ Logical – Based on valid reasoning
💡 Why Research Matters in Social Science and Business
Social Sciences Business Management Understands human behavior and societal trends Identifies consumer needs and market gaps Influences public policy and governance Improves product development and strategy Studies culture, values, and institutions Measures performance and operational efficiency Informs education, development, and equality Enables evidence-based decision-making 🔍 Simple Everyday Examples
A teacher wants to know if using storytelling improves learning outcomes — they conduct classroom-based research.A marketing team tests which advertisement gains more engagement on Instagram — that’s business research.A policymaker studies the impact of a welfare scheme in rural India — that’s social research.🛠️ Quick Activity (For You!)
Write a 2-line research question related to your own domain or interest.
💬 Share it in the comments below and get feedback in tomorrow’s post!
🔔 What’s Next?
Tomorrow’s Post:
👉 “Importance of Research in Social Science and Business Management: Why Should You Care?”
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With curiosity,
Team Research Mitra
🌐 Your Everyday Research Companion
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