This in turns requires being able to read critically, efficiently extract relevant information, and synthesize disparate ideas in new and creative ways. Research is not restricted to scientific laboratories. It can be a way to inquire about almost anything one is curious about, has a stake in understanding, or for which one desires a fresh or expanded perspective. Research typically includes both informal and formal components. One often starts informally, making observations or gathering information that leads to new ideas or perspectives that one then explores more formally.
Research can be qualitative or quantitative.
This is different than formal or informal. Research can be fruitfully incorporated as part of the design process, either as part of a single project, or directed toward a class of projects or problems. It may also be employed more broadly as a means to inform critical thinking within the design profession. Framing an appropriate research question is itself a process that requires substantial critical thinking. It includes identifying both the broad context within which the issue is embedded, and a discrete, answerable question as its focus.