The Cumulative Lessons of Research

Abstract

Research is an activity as old as humanity. Where it is directed to scientific endeavour, as it has been for a number of centuries, the way in which it is carried out seems to develop structure and become formalised, although this has no constancy with time. Through research there is progress and develop ment and it can be said that all research is carried out in the light of the research which has gone before it. Research has its philosopy and deals with the real world rather than the irrational, although hypotheses may seem irra tional when first proposed. When the progress of research is examined it can be seen that the pace is not steady but is marked by new discoveries which allow faster development for a time. The division of scientific research, with the introduction of the concept of applied research as a separate entity, is com paratively new and can be dated to the 1790s, although this initiative was not sustained. In summary, any lessons from research must include the ideas that research builds on earlier research, that it is a continuous process, and that it often disproves the earlier work. Cynically, this could be expressed by saying that at the end, all the answers from research are wrong.