What is the best definition for the term "research"?

a) knowing that you already have the answer and refusing to seek out information

b) none of these are the definition

c) finding out or verifying something that you do not know for sure

d) taking a rest from your work

c) finding out or verifying something that you do not know for sure. This is the right option.

To research means that you have ideas in mind to write your academic paper but you need to get more information and to verify your presuppositions.

These options are wrong:

-a) knowing that you already have the answer and refusing to seek out information. In fact, when you do research, you are not sure you have the answer to your claim. You start with some ideas, but you should develop them and verify their true value.

d) taking a rest from your work. This option is out of context. To do research is connected to working on information.

The correct answer is:

C) finding out or verifying something that you do not know for sure

The word "research" derives from the French "recherche", which means "to go about seeking". The definition of research is: "a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding" which means researching is always seeking for new information, or reaffirming facts that you don't quite understand.