Research is defined as the cautious consideration of a study on a specific problem using scientific methods. 

According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”

The purpose of research is to discover new treatments, or solutions and make sure that existing treatments or solutions are used in the best possible ways.

Research involves tackling a problem to get solutions and if you love solving problems, you should love research.

It is safe to say the basis of being a problem-solver is being a researcher.

There’s no problem you want to solve that doesn’t involve some degree of research and this is why it is better to embrace research which is the basis to gain more experience and skills. 

Why should you as problem-solver love research?

Expands the base of your knowledge: 

What is the goal of problem-solving if not to get insight and knowledge into a new way of doing things which gives the desired outcome? This is exactly what research does. Research expands your knowledge base and enables you to learn more on a topic.

Gives you access to the latest information:

Who is a problem solver without the latest information? A problem solver needs to stay updated on the trends and find new methods of solving problems.

Research allows you access to this.

While carrying out research, you come across recent and latest information, many of which will be useful in finding solutions to the problems.

Staying updated keeps you from falling behind and becoming irrelevant.

Credibility building:

Research builds your credibility as it provides evidence that backs up your solutions and gives you the confidence to speak accurately about what you know to be facts.

It makes it harder for holes to be poked into what you say. 

Encourages curiosity:

One of the important qualities of a problem solver is curiosity and research helps sharpen your curiosity. It opens you to different ideas and opinions which in turn, builds your inquisitiveness and gives you new insights. 

Gives you an overview of what you are up against:

It is a well-known fact that to be a good problem solver, you have to know what exactly it is you are up against. Research aids in knowing exactly what the problem you are up against is.

Build your teamwork and leadership spirit: As a problem solver, you equally have to be a team worker. You need a team that helps you analyze, process, and come up with a plan. Research allows you to build these necessary skills.

Add to your resume and allows you to show your work; the goal of being a problem solver is to come up with a useful solution, which is the same as research. Research serves as a foundation for your work and gives you the needed opportunity to build your resume while working with others.

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Skills you will develop as a researcher, are necessary for problem-solving

Analytical skills: The first step to solving a problem is to analyze it. Analysis skill helps you to understand a problem, where it springs from, and how you can effectively provide a solution. 

Decision-making skills: As a problem-solver, you’ll need to make decisions at certain points of solving the problem. You need to analyze the solution you come up with and decide which is the best fit for the problem or arrange them in order of priority. With the knowledge of research, you’ll find the process easy and be able to make decisions quickly. 

Attention to detail: As a problem solver, you need to pay attention to detail to be sure you are not missing a point. A missed point could disrupt a problem-solving process and rather than coming up with a solution, you come up with another problem. Research helps build your attention skill and this gives you an edge.

Time management skills: You are a problem solver, trying to solve a problem. The last thing you want is for the problem to stay as a problem for too long and here is where time management becomes useful. You need to learn how to manage the 24 hours we have in a day and use it effectively to come up with a solution as soon as possible. Research gives you the necessary space to build this skill.

With all of the above, it is safe to say you can’t be a problem-solver without being a researcher, it’s like ignoring the foundation which isn’t possible. 

You can only build on a foundation and research is the foundation to being a problem solver. 

If you love solving problems, you should love and embrace research.