Research - looking stuff up for yourself; using sources outside the assigned texts and class syllabus. Finding out what others have said instead of (or in addition to) giving your own thoughts or beliefs on a topic.
research - Merriam Webster
research noun
re·search | \ ri-ˈsərch , ˈrē-ˌsərch \
Definition of research (Entry 1 of 2)
1: careful or diligent search
2: studious inquiry or examination especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws
3: the collecting of information about a particular subject
research verb
researched; researching; researches
transitive verb
2: to search or investigate exhaustively, research a problem
2: to do research for, research a book
intransitive verb: to engage in research
Different fields of knowledge use different research methodologies. Research in scientific fields is different than in social science fields and both are different than research in the humanities. When you do research for a "term paper" you are usually reporting in some way what other experts (usually scientists or social scientis or journalists) have said on a topic. You are kind of doing research on the research of others. We have access to this research through library databases and the internet.