History Main / DoingResearch

-->-- '''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]''', "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E14GoodbyeIowa Goodbye Iowa]]" and most other episodes

A [[MonsterOfTheWeek new monster]] has arrived in town and it’s already [[TheWorfEffect beaten off our heroes]] once. Is it time to [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]]?

No. It’s time to hit the books.

* ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'': Tim spends a fair amount of time looking information up trying to track down the identity, most likely location or powers and allies of an opponent or other oddity he's encountered. On at least one occasion he and Steph worked together to figure out the identity and location of some kidnappers by working with an old computer in Oracle's clocktower while bouncing ideas off each other.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* In the film ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', After Dana Barrett reports strange paranormal events in her apartment to the Ghostbusters, they investigate. The name Gozer comes up in the investigation prompting Dr. Egon Spengler (a formal paranormal researcher turned Ghostbuster) to research info on the unusual design of the apartment building, as well as the information on who Gozer could refer to. He determines that Gozer was an ancient Hittite god and that the apartment was built by a Gozer worshiper (Ivo Shandor) with the intent of acting as a portal to bring Gozer back to the earthly world. He explains all this to the Ghostbusters in a scene towards the end of the film. He would also serve as the main researcher role in the sequel too.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

** ''Series/{{Angel}}'' had the same thing. Fred and Wes traded off or went together for research roles, sometimes with Cordelia joining in, though Gunn occasionally got in on it in season 5. Before Wesley joined the team in season 1, Cordelia did most of the research, often using the internet. Fred became part of the team in early season 3.

* This is one of Artemus Gordon's responsibilities on ''Series/TheWildWildWest''. He's the one who dives into the books - sometimes ''piles'' of them - in order to dig out and correlate any relevant bits of data. He's also usually the one who gets in touch with the "research department" and other sources of information back in Washington, D. C.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E2ToothAndClaw Tooth and Claw]]" invokes this trope in a more... time-sensitive manner than is customary. [[Characters/DoctorWhoTenthDoctor The Tenth Doctor]] and company have been cornered [[spoiler: by a werewolf]] in Torchwood House. Upon realizing they've been trapped in the house's LIBRARY of all places, The Doctor utters a strong candidate for page quote:
--> '''Doctor:''' You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. [''Throws some books to Rose''] Arm yourself.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Sokka does this during "The Library" episode, where he happens upon a burnt piece of parchment titled, "The Darkest Day in Fire Nation History". Sokka does some digging and eventually learns that [[spoiler: there was a solar eclipse which left the firebenders powerless... and that the next one was only three months away]]. Armed with this information, he begins to plan an invasion to coincide on the same day: [[spoiler: the Day of "Black Sun"]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E19StormOverRyloth , "Storm Over Ryloth"]]: Mar Tuuk asks for all the files they have on Anakin Skywalker in order to research his opponent, which allows him to predict that Anakin will return despite the heavy losses to his fleet and the fact that Tuuk has him outgunned. Anakin's [[ISurrenderSuckers strategy]] upon return still manages to catch him by surprise.
* In an episode o ''WesternAnimation/TeamoSupremo'', a touristic guide becomes a supervillain and defeats the Teamo with her knowledege of local landmarks (not as dumb as it sounds - she knew perfectly all the territories where they fought). The Teamo only defeats her after an intensive study of the local history and geography.

[[folder: Other]]
* In one of his stand-up routines, Creator/LouisCK tells of how his daughter was bitten on the leg by a wild pony in Italy, after which she immediately hit the internet to read up on ponies. And, says Louis, "it turns out, they're assholes! They bite all the time!"
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* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeamoSupremo'', a touristic guide becomes a supervillain and defeats the Teamo with her knowledege of local landmarks (not as dumb as it sounds - she knew perfectly all the territories where they fought). The Teamo only defeats her after an intensive study of the local history and geography.

** Angel had the same thing. Fred and Wes traded off or went together for research roles, sometimes with Cordelia joining in, though Gunn occasionally got in on it in season 5. Before Wesley joined the team in season 1, Cordelia did most of the research, often using the internet. Fred became part of the team in early season 3.

* The title character of ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' does this very often, usually with the help of his mentor [[CoolOldGuy Gaius]].

* In the film ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', After Dana Barrett reports strange paranormal events in her apartment to the Ghostbusters, they investigate. The name Gozer comes up in the investigation prompting Dr. Egon Spengler (a formal paranormal researcher turned Ghostbuster) to research info on the unusual design of the apartment building, as well as the information on who Gozer could refer to. He determines that Gozer was an ancient Hittite god and that the apartment was built by a Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) with the intent of acting as a portal to bring Gozer back to the earthly world. He explains all this to the Ghostbusters in a scene towards the end of the film. He would also serve as the main researcher role in the sequel too.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

Our characters head to the MagicalLibrary to consult the GreatBigBookOfEverything and the TomesOfEldritchLore. They search the OmniscientDatabase and scan samples with the EverythingSensor, possibly with the help of a HardWorkMontage. Only when all avenues have been exhausted will they [[MrExposition summarise their findings]] and formulate a [[UnspokenPlanGuarantee new plan]].

Doing Research is the favourite pastime of MrExposition, TheSmartGuy, the BadassBookworm and TheTeamNormal, and it is most common on MonsterOfTheWeek shows, although MysteryOfTheWeek has its fair share.

* [[OnceAnEpisode Once a book]] in ''Literature/HarryPotter'', generally undertaken by Hermione.
* Alice's entire purpose as the scholar for Literature/TheWitchWatch involves doing research and so it's not surprising her first reaction to the situation is to hit the books.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' involved research nearly every episode, although generally Buffy was patrolling while the other Scoobies hit the books.

* Chloe on ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' regularly played this role.
* The science montages in the ''Series/{{CSI}}'' Franchise are halfway between this and HardWorkMontage.

* Many episodes of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' involve one of them, usually Sam, trying to find out what they might be facing and/or how to kill it by this method. This is mostly done by him searching the web for odd occurrences first, then researching in the library.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Bud Roberts often had this role, in the earlier seasons.

* In the film ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', After Dana Barrett reports strange paranormal events in her apartment to the Ghostbusters, they investigate. The name Gozer comes up in the investigation prompting Dr. Egon Spengler (a formal paranormal researcher turned Ghostbuster) to research info on the unusual design of the apartment building, as well as the information on who Gozer could refer to. He determines that Gozer was ancient Hittite god and that the apartment was built by by a Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) with the intent of building acting as a portal to bring Gozer back to the the earthly world. He explains all this to the Ghostbusters in a scene towards the end of the film. He would also serve as the main researcher role in the sequel too.

* In the film ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', After Dana Barrett reports strange paranormal events in her apartment to the Ghostbusters, they investigate. The name Gozer come up in the investigation prompting Dr. Egon Spengler (a formal paranormal researcher turned Ghostbuster) to research info on the unusual design of the apartment building, as well as the information on who Gozer could refer too. He determines that Gozer was ancient Hittite god and that the apartment was built by by a Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) with the intent of building acting as a portal to bring Gozer back to the the earthly world. He explains all this to the Ghostbusters in a scene towards the end of the film. He would also serve as the main researcher role in the sequel too.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Harry will sometimes start doing this at the start of dangerous cases or when he encounters some creature or magic he's not very familiar with. This usually involves consulting [[MrExposition Bob the Skull]] in his lab, who usually knows a huge amount of information about most magical monsters. It's relatively rare for Bob to ''not'' provide a wealth of information, usually when it's either something to do with Heaven and Hell, or [[Thedreaded the necromancer Kemmler]].

* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': One of Uncle's many {{Catch Phrase}}s is "We must do reeesearch!" Of course, given that many of the threats the cast faces are ancient and tend documented in historic texts and legend, it's generally applicable to the situation.

* In the film ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'', After Dana Barrett reports strange paranormal events in her apartment to the Ghostbusters, they investigate. The name Gozar come up in the investigation prompting Dr. Egon Spengler (a formal paranormal researcher turned Ghostbuster) to research info on the unusual design of the apartment building, as well as the information on who Gozar could refer too. He determines that Gozer was ancient Hittite god and that the apartment was built by by a Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) with the intent of building acting as a portal to bring Gozar back to the the earthly world. He explains all this to the Ghostbusters in a scene towards the end of the film. He would also serve as the main researcher role in the sequel too.

* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': One of Uncle's many {{Catch Phrase}}s is "We must do reeesearch!"

** The same applies to ''X-COM's [[Main/SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Successors]], such as the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' series, ''VideoGame/UFOExtraterrestrials'' or ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}''.

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** The same applies to ''[[VideoGame/{{X-Com}} X-COM]]'''s [[Main/SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Successors]], such as the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' series, ''VideoGame/UFOExtraterrestrials'' or ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}''.

[[quoteright:320:[[VideoGame/{{X-Com}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ILoveScience_2294.jpg]]]]

* In all games from the ''VideoGame/{{X-Com}}'' series, the only way to stop aliens from [[Main/AlienInvasion conquering Earth]] is to study them. This requires analysis of their equipment, biology, and later even interrogation (see page picture). All this take many, many working hours of the most brilliant minds on the planet.

* In all games from the VideoGame/{{X-Com}} series, the only way to stop aliens from [[Main/AlienInvasion conquering Earth]] is to study them. This requires analysis of their equipment, biology, and later even interrogation (see page picture). All this take many, many working hours of the most brilliant minds on the planet.
** The same applies to [[VideoGame/{{X-Com}} X-COM's]] [[Main/SpiritualSuccessor Spiritual Successors]], such as the ''VideoGame/UFOAfterBlank'' series, ''VideoGame/UFOExtraterrestrials'' or ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}''.