What is research?
What Is Research?
Research is the systematic discovery of knowledge. Some researchers experiment. These researchers partially or completely control the context in which they gather information to test ideas and gain new understanding. Other researchers observe situations in which they have little or no control. Observers also test ideas and gain new knowledge. Their job is harder because of possible uncontrolled or unknown effects. All research is systematic. Researchers follow a predetermined roadmap or protocol to gather and analyze their data. Research exists in a wide range of fields. Research can be aesthetic, social, political, economic, cultural, scientific, technical or more.
What is Creative Activity?
Some fields especially value new forms of human expression. Creative activity represents human thought, both in material form such as works of art, or in other ways, such as music or dance. Most valued are creative activities that communicate effectively with others. Creative activity can stimulate both the rational mind and the emotional soul of its creator and audience. Universities particularly encourage creative activities that are both novel and powerful in their ability to communicate to a broad audience, representing the diverse world in which we live.
The Office of Undergraduate Research encourages University of Minnesota undergraduates to experience the complete breadth of the scholarly enterprise, including both research and creative activity.