Question: 

It is interesting that the word “research” is used a great deal in our daily lives—especially in an academic environment. It seems to me to be such a “loaded” word that can carry a number of meanings—from the highly esoteric to the banal. There is also a certain mystery about it and even a certain ‘scary’ quality that people sometimes convey. While I have found basic texts on research methods very helpful, I would appreciate a de-mystified explanation of what research is.