What Research Is Not: Study Note

What Research Is Not
Research is not simply a compilation of quotations. True, quotations are used to document and clarify findings. But research is not the result of an afternoon spent with scissors, glue, and photocopies. A good research paper shows that you have assimilated and synthesized (digested, if you like) the material and drawn logical conclusions.
Research is not simply rewriting other people’s word and ideas into a neat description.
Research is not a defense or apology of my own convictions. This type of writing too often ignores unfavorable evidence and tends to look at one’s position through rose-colored glasses. Research seeks truth; it does not hide- for any reason-what may disagree with esteemed ideas. If the position being maintained is tenable, research can defend it; if the position is not based on truth, it is defended in vain. We cannot allow ourselves to use unsound arguments, even for a good cause.
Likewise, research is not polemical. Its objective is to clearly present truth, not to fight other’s positions, even if those may be erroneous. In good research, truth is presented in such a logical and convincing way that there is no need for harsh language.
Research is not the presentation of one’s own opinions. Research demands showing facts, data, and information. Naturally, the conclusions we reach are somewhat modified by our personal opinions, but whoever reads the research report must be able to follow the logic and the evidence to see how we reached our conclusions.
Finally, especially for theology students, research is not a sermon. It is different in content, style, and language. Some research may be involved in the preparation of a sermon, but the main purpose of a sermon is to reach the heart and change people’s lives. The language and the message are appropriate to this goal. Research, on the other hand, seeks to inform and convince the mind. Research vocabulary is neutral, free of superlatives and emotional language. Furthermore, a sermon becomes effective through the delivery, whereas in research writing, there is no dramatic rendition from the pulpit. What appears in research writing, there is no dramatic rendition form the pulpit. What appears on paper must stand, just as it is written, without any further embellishment.