What is research?

To me research is essentially an exploration of other people's ideas, which you then use to form your own opinions.

It can also be seen as a search for the facts, the "who/what/why/where/when" information. But facts are slippery and, in many cases, impossible to pin down. Research invariably discovers differing and sometimes contradictory views about issues or events, which the researcher has to sort through and give weight to.