Research is defined as "a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge." Research encompasses work that is conducted on or off campus, in person or online and includes questionnaires, interviews, tests, observations, surveys and other experimental methodologies, regardless of the content or routine nature of the topic and whether the work is a preliminary (such as pilot studies) or a fully developed study.
- Systematic investigation: the use of step-by-step, purposeful procedures in order to reduce partiality (error) in the data and increase control over the results, allowing the knowledge to be applied to populations and settings different from the ones from which it was collected. Through this process, the researcher is seeking underlying principles or laws of nature that can predict future outcomes.
- Generalizable knowledge: new information that has relevance beyond the population or program from which it was collected because impartial procedures were used and the information is intended for professional presentation outside the classroom setting.
Here are some examples of projects that do not meet the definition of research because they do not contribute to generalizable knowledge:
- Projects that are conducted only as a classroom assignment and will not be shared outside of the student's department.
- Projects whose results will only be used for evaluation of the effectiveness or acceptance of an existing program.
- Projects whose data will only be shared with clients or stakeholders, such as an evaluation of a community's attitudes about a proposed new program or service.
Please note that research conducted for a thesis or dissertation does contribute to generalizable knowledge, as the thesis or dissertation will be made available to other scholars.