Research is a systematic study that involves carefully collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative data or facts to relate human thinking to reality. It involves posing a question, collecting data to answer it, and presenting an answer. The goals of research are to generate new knowledge, find applications for it, and verify existing knowledge, as well as develop the investigator. There are three main types of research: basic research seeks fundamental truths, applied research develops new systems to solve problems, and developmental research applies scientific methods to improve practices. Descriptive research observes and records natural changes.