Diverse Definitions Of The Expression  Research:
Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a technical sense. According to Clifford Woody, research comprises defining and redefining problems ,formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting ,organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.

Research is common parlance refers to a search for knowledge .One can also define research as a scientific and Systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of Scientific investigation. Dictionary definition of research is a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge .It is actually a voyage of discovery.

D.Slesinger ad M. Stephenson in the Encyclopedia of Social Sciences define research as ‘ the manipulation of things, Concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge ,whether that knowledge aids in construction of theory or in the practice of an art.

Importance Of Processing the Research:
Research is thus, 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.

In Short, the search  for knowledge through Objective and Systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research. The Systematic approach concerning generalization and the formulation of a theory is also research.

Research refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis ,collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solution towards the concerned problem or in certain generalizations fro some theoretical formulation.

“All progress is born of Inquiry .Doubt is often better than Over confidence, for it lead to inquiry and inquiry leads to invention”  is a famous Hudson Maxim in context of which the significance of research can well be understood. Increased amounts of research make progress possible. 

Role of Research In Multi-Disciplinary Fields:
Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and Organization. The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether related to business ,or to the economy as a whole, has greatly increased in modern times.

The increasingly complex nature of  business and governance has focused attention on the use of research in solving Operational Problems. Research as an aid to economic policy, has gained added importance both for governance and business.

Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system.

In the context of the government, research as a tool to economic policy has three distinct phases of Operation viz;

Investigation of economic Structure through continual compilation of facts

Diagnosis of events that are taking place and the analysis of the forces underlying them.

The prognosis i.e the protection of future developments.

Systematic  Study Of Research In Social Sciences:

• Research has its special significance in solving various operational and planning problems of business and Industry
• Research thus replaces intuitive business decisions by more logical and scientific decisions.
• Research is equally important for social scientists in studying social relationships and in seeking answers to various social problems.
• Research in social sciences in concerned with
• The development of a body of principles that helps in understanding the whole range of human interactions.
• The practical guidance in solving immediate problems of human relations.

Thus , Research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and an important source of providing guidelines for solving different business ,governmental and social problems. It is a sort of formal training which enables one to understand the new developments in one’s field in a better way.

Written By: A.J.E.Shiny