I seem to do this 2-3 times a week.  What has worked for me has been the "generalization of knowledge" definition.  Operationally, I tell people that research consists of a collection, an analysis, and a dissemination phase.  The phases may be that of collecting your thoughts (or other people's opinions), analyzing and generalizing your conclusions, and then publishing a treatise.  (Which satisfies the philosophers - or at least they go away) or it may be collecting data, analyzing and generalizing your hypotheses, and then publishing a journal article (which satisfies the scientist).  Once when facing an artist, we reverted to scholarly activites (which they prefer), but the process was the same. In her words, it was gathering the muse, analyse and interpret it on canvas, and then have a show.  It worked for her, and I just went along for the ride.

Sally Eckert-Tilotta, Ph.D., Associate Director
Office of Research & Program Development
University of North Dakota
PO Box 7134
Grand Forks, ND  58202
Tel:  701-777-2049
Fax:  701-777-2504
Email:  xxxxxx@mail.und.nodak.edu

>>> <xxxxxx@EXCHANGE.UAMS.EDU> 03/31/00 02:58PM >>>
Has anyone out there tried to define research ? This is a hard one. When you
start looking for a good definition from the faculty, it ends up sounding
like the workings of a very bad joke.

"A Molecular Biologist, a Social Scientist and a Physician walked into a
Research Administration Office . . ."

I'll spare you the details.

But the definition is important. The proper definition can affect everything
from mission statements to F&A calculations. Have any of you defined
research to help you therefore define your organization's mission ? (If not
that, what HAVE you administrators done with the definition of research?)

By the way, I ALREADY HAVE THE NIH and OPRR DEFINITION, but you know it
doesn't always fit.

THANKS !

Tim

Timothy N. Atkinson
Director, Research Support Center
Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute
Little Rock, AR 72202
V: 501-320-3581
F: 501-320-7205

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