Research Task

A Research Task is a knowledge discovery task that aims to discover new knowledge within a structured investigative process.

• AKA: Formal Investigation, Academic Inquiry, Scholarly Investigation, Knowledge Exploration.
• Context:
  • Task Input: Research Topic, Literature Review, Prior Knowledge
    • Optional Input: Research Question, Hypothesis, Conceptual Framework
  • Task Output: Research Output, Research Findings, New Knowledge
  • Task Performance Measure: Research Qualitys such as validity, reliability, and generalizability
  • ...
  • It can typically follow a Research Method through methodological protocols.
  • It can typically implement Research Design through investigative structures.
  • It can typically collect Research Data through systematic observations.
  • It can typically analyze Research Findings through analytical techniques.
  • It can typically document Research Output through scholarly publications.
  • ...
  • It can often employ Research Instruments through measurement tools.
  • It can often involve Literature Review through knowledge synthesis.
  • It can often require Research Ethics through ethical guidelines.
  • It can often utilize Research Framework through conceptual structures.
  • ...
  • It can range from being an Empirical Research Task to being a Theoretical Research Task, depending on its knowledge acquisition approach.
  • It can range from being an Open Research Task to being a Closed Research Task, depending on its research scope definition.
  • It can range from being a Qualitative Research Task to being a Quantitative Research Task, depending on its data type.
  • It can range from being an Exploratory Research Task to being a Confirmatory Research Task, depending on its research purpose.
  • ...
  • It can be performed by a Researcher during a Research Act.
  • It can be aimed at a Research Challenge.
  • It can be within a Research Area.
  • It can be a part of a Research Project.
  • It can be performed by a Researcher (or Research Team).
  • It can follow a Research Method (e.g. Quantitative Method, Positivist Approach).
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Research Task Categories, such as:
    • Scientific Research Tasks, such as:
      • Experimental Research Task for controlled variable testing.
      • Observational Research Task for natural phenomenon documentation.
      • Computational Research Task for data-driven simulation.
    • Academic Research Tasks, such as:
      • Literature Review Research Task for knowledge synthesis.
      • Meta-analysis Research Task for multiple study integration.
      • Theoretical Framework Development Task for conceptual model building.
    • Applied Research Tasks, such as:
      • Practitioner Research Task for professional practice improvement.
      • Action Research Task for practical problem solving.
      • Industrial Research Task for commercial application development.
    • Specialized Research Tasks, such as:
      • Human Subject Research Task for behavior understanding.
        • User Behavior Analysis for interaction pattern identification.
        • Clinical Trial Research Task for treatment efficacy assessment.
      • Machine Reading Research Task for automated text comprehension.
      • Cross-cultural Research Task for cultural variation analysis.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Operational Task, which focuses on routine execution rather than knowledge discovery.
  • Creative Task, which aims at artistic expression rather than systematic investigation.
  • Educational Task, which focuses on knowledge transmission rather than knowledge creation.
  • Decision-making Task, which aims at action selection based on existing knowledge rather than discovering new knowledge.
  • Implementation Task, which applies known solutions rather than investigating problems.
• See: Research Process, Scientific Method, Academic Inquiry, Knowledge Creation, Business Process.

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References

2013

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research
  • 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." It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories. A research project may also be an expansion on past work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research may replicate elements of prior projects, or the project as a whole. The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, or the research and development (R&D) of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies, which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. There are several forms of research: scientific, humanities, artistic, economic, social, business, marketing, practitioner research, etc.

2009

• (WordNet, 2009) ⇒ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=research
  • S: (n) research (systematic investigation to establish facts)
  • S: (n) inquiry, enquiry, research (a search for knowledge) "their pottery deserves more research than it has received"
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/research#Noun
  • Template:Uncountable Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, et cetera; laborious or continued search after truth.
  • Template:Countable A particular instance or piece of research.

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