The term research while it can be loosely defined as the search for knowledge and information about a specific topic is often times a misused word. Its usage in our everyday language is not the same as its strict scientific meaning.
Often times we misinterpret surfing the internet or visiting the library as research. However, research is a broader concept in its scientific sense.
Research can however be defined as the scientific process of inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control an observed phenomenon. It entails the collection of data, documentation of critical information and the analysis and interpretation of the information in accordance with suitable methodologies.