2025-01-28 Verbs to use with ‘research’ – English In A Minute

Introduction

Research is an activity where you study or investigate something to learn new things about it. There are some words that we often use together with ‘research’. These are called collocations. Learn some of the verbs that we often use with the noun ‘research’ with Phil in this video.

Common collocations with ‘research’

carry out research
carry out research is one way to say do research. It often focuses on the activity in progress.

• We are carrying out research into health problems in the local area. Could you fill in this questionnaire?

undertake research
Another way to talk about doing research is to say that you are undertaking research. It has a similar meaning to ‘carry out’ research.

• I’m going to undertake some research into economic predictions. It should take about six months.

conduct research
Conduct research is also a way to say ‘do’ research. It has a similar meaning to carry out research and undertake research.

• That’s an interesting topic! You should conduct some research to see if your predictions are correct.

base research on
You base research on the source of your information. This is often used in the passive to explain where information has come from.

• This study is based on the records held in the National Archives. It’s the most comprehensive source of information.

research proves…
If we say that our research proves something, it means that it demonstrates that something is true.

• This research proves that the new process will save energy. There’s a clear link between the method and the amount of energy saved.

research shows…
If research shows something, we can see it in the results.

• The latest research shows that global temperatures are increasing.

research reveals…
If research reveals something, then it makes something clear or visible.

• Our research reveals just how bad the problem really is. We now hope to develop a solution.

research suggests…
If research suggests something, it demonstrates that something might be true.  

• Your research suggests that mobile phones are causing a problem. Now you should carry out some more in-depth research.

TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Phil
We do research but what other verbs do we use with ‘research’?

Well, you carry it out, or undertake it. We can also say you conduct research. They mean the same.

No one has carried out research on this area before. We‘re conducting the first major research on this topic.
She‘s undertaking some important research.

When talking about it, we often want to say what research is based on – where does the information come from?

This research is based on data from our experiments.

Then, it’s all about how certain you are. Maybe your research proves something, shows something, or reveals something. Maybe it just suggests something if you’re not so sure.

My research proves that my theory is correct. It reveals the importance of my ideas.
Her research suggests that things are much more complicated than we thought.

So, you can undertake research, base it on data and see if it proves or suggests something.