The purpose of research broadly encompasses the systematic pursuit of knowledge to understand, explain, and solve problems. Key purposes include:
- Advancing Knowledge: Research seeks to discover new information or validate and expand existing knowledge across various disciplines, contributing to a body of scientific or scholarly understanding
- Exploration: It involves investigating a problem or phenomenon that is not well understood to gain familiarity and identify key dimensions, often as a precursor to more detailed study
- Description: Research describes characteristics, behaviors, or conditions of a particular group or phenomenon, focusing on the "what" and "how" aspects without necessarily explaining causes
- Explanation: It aims to understand the causes and relationships between variables, answering "why" questions and establishing cause-and-effect, often through experimental or causal research
- Problem-Solving and Innovation: Research addresses real-world problems by providing evidence-based solutions, guiding decision-making, and fostering the development of new products, technologies, or methods that improve society
- Evaluation: It assesses the effectiveness of policies, programs, or interventions to inform improvements and policy-making
- Informing Society: Research findings are shared to inform the scientific community and the public, enabling continuous progress and refinement of knowledge
In summary, research is a systematic, evidence-based process aimed at expanding understanding, solving problems, and improving human life through knowledge creation and application
