There is always a gap between theoretical knowledge and its application. Application is the essence of knowledge. It is only with practice that this gap can be narrowed.
Thus crk caraka counsels that "those alone are wise who act after investigation" - pir]ykairnaeih k…sla ÉviNt parikñayakärinohi kusalä bhavanti
Lord Buddha in kalam sUÇ käläma sütra teaches a way of thinking whereby, he instructs, one should only believe based on unbiased evidence.
"Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumour; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration. 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalama, when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blameable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."
Research is a way of obtaining answers to a question. It is the strictly scientific way of finding answers. When a research study is undertaken to find out answers to a question, it implies that the process is:
being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies
using procedures, methods and techniques that have been tested for their validity and reliability and
designed to be unbiased and objective.
Adherence to these three criteria enables the process to be called 'research'. However, the degree to which these criteria should be fulfilled varies from discipline to discipline.
The word research is composed of two syllables, re and search. The dictionary defines the former as a prefix meaning 'again', 'anew' or 'over again', and the latter is a verb meaning 'to examine closely and carefully', 'to test', 'to try' or 'to probe'.
Thus, the word research is a noun describing a careful, systematic study and investigation into some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles (Grinnell 1993:4)
For the purposes of this collection, the essential characteristic of research activity is that it leads to publicly verifiable outcomes, which are open to peer appraisal.
Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (1).
Any activity classified as research and experimental development is characterised by originality; it should have investigation as a primary objective and should have the potential to produce results that are sufficiently general for humanity's stock of knowledge (theoretical and/or practical) to be recognisably increased. Most higher education research work would qualify as research and experimental development.
The widely accepted definition of research as disciplined inquiry applies equally to research in any discipline. The generic characteristics of this kind of inquiry - that research should be accessible, transparent and transferable - are useful criteria for shaping and evaluating our research
Accessible - a public activity, open to scrutiny by peers
Transparent - clear in its structure, process and outcomes
Transferable - useful beyond the specific research project, applicable in principles (if not specifics) to other researchers and research contexts.
The Arts & Humanities Research Board provides an excellent definition of research. In this definition research is considered to be a process built around three key features:
clearly-articulated research questions to be addressed through the research, and a related series of objectives which will enable the questions to be explored and answered.
the specification of a research context for the questions, and a rationale for why it is important that these particular questions should be answered or explored; this description of context should make clear what other research is being or has been conducted in this area; and what particular contribution this particular project will make to the advancement of creativity, insights, knowledge and understanding in this area.
the specification of appropriate research methods for addressing and answering the research questions, and a rationale for the use of particular methods.
Research is a structured inquiry that utilises acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems and creates new knowledge that is generally applicable. Grinnell (1993:4)
Research is a systematic investigation to find answers to a problem. Burns (1994:2)
The College of Ayurveda has a team of research experts in the UK, India and Sri Lanka. We undertake contract research on Ayurveda and invite collaborative projects.
