If research were to be perfect, the word research would have been extinct by now. After discovering Abacus had we believed that our research was perfect do you think the Computer would have been invented? Had we stopped with the Candle we would not have the Electricity. Try applying this rule to everything that you see and feel. Don’t you think that if research were to be perfect then there wouldn’t be any ongoing research?
Now if we go with the first definition that we are searching for something that has been lost, two situations can arise. Are you sure that something has been lost and you are trying to find it or by researching you would lose what you already have. For example Pager has been lost to the research of Mobile.
Coming to the second definition that you are going to discover something new, are you sure that this has not been discovered before and forfeited by our ancestors? For instance you may discover that a certain plant has specific medicinal properties. It might happen that our ancestors have seen the side effects of the medicine in the long run and hence stopped using it. If we start using it as a medicine our next generation might see the side effects and defy the medicinal values of that plant.
Research as the name suggests, means that re-searching. It denotes the process of searching for something whose search has already been completed in the past. That “something” might either be an idea, a concept, a theorem or a technology and much more. “There is no hope of doing perfect research” says Griffiths. In fact, the saying holds good for each and every research work done on earth. I do agree with the saying and would like to add some supporting evidences with reference my experiences in the past.
“No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden”- is a famous quote by the writer Hugh Johnson [Thomas, 1985, p115]. This quote is applicable for human beings too. No two individuals express the same opinion and thought. As their thoughts vary, their idea on perceiving things vary. A person looking at a half-filled glass also has a perception to see that glass half empty. A research work eventually results in an inference by a person on a particular concept. Obviously, no two researchers conclude the same thing.
Based on the already present facts we investigate further. And there comes the question about research. Can there be a perfect research keeping in mind that it is based on already present facts which may or may not be perfect and we are after all human beings and facts and perception change with person to person. So can there be a perfect research? There is no guarantee whether a research will yield perfect results or the processes used for the purpose are perfect. Difference of perception in individuals may result in biases. Errors sometimes are inevitable, whether it is related to measurements or misunderstandings or our biased mind.
All of us would be aware of the Big Bang Theory. I am also not an exception to it. I am also one of the poor victims who were made to sit in a class room with boring lectures and lessons. Big Bang theory was the one that I studied in my higher secondary Physics class in a chapter by name, “Universe”. The Big Bang theory as all of us know is one of the widely accepted theories that explain about the origin of our universe. According to Big Bang theory, the universe has emerged out of nothing [Karen C. Fox, 2002]. The Big Bang theory has proven that there is an origin for this universe and, before that origin, there existed nothing. Many astronomers, after making exhaustive research work have concluded the same. All of us believe in this concept, till date. However, in the recent years, many researches are formulating hypothesis that stand against this widely accepted Big Bang Theory. According to Big Bang, the universe has originated 13.7 million years ago. The recent researches by scientists have identified stars in the universe whose ages have been approximated to be older than 13.7 million years [NOAO, Website]. Another research work made by the scientist Roger A Rydin, claims that the general relativity based model proposed by Einstein, which Big Bang took as a base for predicting the history of universe itself was wrong [Roger A, 2007]. This shows t that the prediction made by Big Bang theory does not hold true. The controversies on Big Bang theory are still continuing and will continue forever. However, that is another different story and is out of scope of our topic as well as my knowledge.
Another famous controversy that is still in existence is between Newton’s third law of motion and Bernoulli’s principle of conservation of energy [Anderson D, 2009]. Both scientists through their research have found out a theory that justifies the reason for an airplane to fly in the air. Newton’s third law of motion as we all know states that, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” [Dole C, 2000, p143]. On the other hand, Bernoulli’s principle of conservation of energy says that, “Faster moving air has a lower pressure and that the converse is true” [McCormick B, 2003, p46], which is controversial to Newton’s third law of motion. Researchers in aeronautical engineering have confusions about which one to rely on, in making airplanes.
Perfection is something which is devoid of any faults, any errors. So when there is some room for error, there cannot be a perfect research. There is constant changing and updating of scientific knowledge that we are made to think that there is no hope for perfect research. The work done or knowledge which is true today may not hold its validity or may be proved inaccurate 10 years down the line when another outstanding work may reveal new information or facts contrary to what has been proved earlier. New processes and approaches keep developing with time that challenges the already established works, and possible effect changes in the status quo. 
Perfect research would be possible only if we presume all humans are perfect which is not possible. The word perfect doesn’t fit research because the very basis, the essence of a research process is imperfection as it is done by us humans. Quality and quantity of a research can be improved but perfection can’t be achieved. Theories are developed, then rejected, and then developed again in a new way, rejected again and so on, and because we keep developing new, old are rejected. If there is a perfect research then no new finding will take place, no matter how the research is done, which processes are used, the result invariably will be same. That’s a perfect research which never happens.
It is implied and evident from the above research findings that there cannot be any research that could be termed “Perfect”, in this world. It is my opinion about research. It is obvious that my opinion stands for the quote by Griffiths. However, opinions and perceptions differ from person to person. Certain things could be understood better by experimenting rather than seeking an explanation. If you are not satisfied with what Griffiths has concluded, then experience and experiment it yourselves, today!
Was a good topic to read........
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