Name: Research
Research is, at its core, the finding of information. That is, however, somewhat simplistic. It is the skill of finding the piece of information you were looking for - or of focusing your search on specific topic(s). The skill of research, on Standing Trials, has two aspects to it.
Research Techniques
The techniques of researching information. There are a number of ways of researching information and this skill covers them all. The most common methods of research include:
Library Research: includes, but is not limited to; understanding library indexing systems, identifying validity of information, cross-referencing, cross-checking and so on. So, the individual who researches theories of psychology in the library is using this technique.
Empirical Research: includes, but is not limited to: observations 'in the real world' / 'in the field'. This might be someone - also studying psychology - who observes behaviour in groups, or watches non-verbal communication.
Experimental Research: includes, but is not limited to: conducting experiments / practical tests to find out information. This may be the person who (as a student of psychology) wants to find out if people perform a well-known task better in familiar or unfamiliar surroundings and so conducts an experiment to find out.
It must be remembered - research is the skill of finding out information. Therefore, how it is done can (and does) vary.
Specialist Study
As people develop in their knowledge and understanding, they may pursue more and more specialist study. This skill allows, at the higher levels, players to develop areas of specialist study. Becoming an "expert in the field" brings kudos with it and allows nerdy bragging-rights.
Skill Levels
Novice: 0-25
Here a researcher is just beginning to realize that learning is a vexing endeavor, marred by false conclusions which throw them off track when it comes to finding the truth of matters. At the earliest levels of a novice, the researcher will often reach incorrect conclusions that lead them astray. They will suffer errors and setbacks that throw them off the trail.
At the higher levels of a novice, the researcher will have found some research techniques that keep them from following a false lead too far into error. Their conclusions will prove clipped and brief but generally well-founded enough. It's not until they reach competence, that they will begin to find traction in their search for knowledge.
Competent: 26-75
Competent researchers will have refined their earlier techniques, and are more often coming to conclusions that are sound. They will have devised a methodology for meticulous fact-checking and cross-referencing information to ascertain its veracity. The process of researching is still very time consuming, especially for the deeper and more buried facts and knowledge. They'll find benefit in having access to greater libraries, but will still have to do a lot of legwork in order to refine their information collections.
At this level, they will have perhaps begun to devise their own method of recording their findings. Here is where skill in writing and perhaps even teaching becomes increasingly useful and relevant. Having comparable skill levels of either or both skills can make their findings all the more convincing and easier to understand.
Expert: 76-150
At Expert, a researcher will have come a long way in their thirst for knowledge. Their cross-referencing and fact-checking skills are impeccable, and they will often be able to recall by sheer memory facts already taken on board and check their new findings or research materials in order to discern their academic value. The process of researching will have become far less time consuming, and only the rarest knowledge and facts still elude them, despite access to a quality library.
They will increase their ability to learn by practical observation. By observing an example of their area of specialization in research, they will be able to acquire knowledge just from the observation, which can then be checked against their increasingly acute memory of the facts they have learned well.
Master: 151-250
There's little in the way of academic knowledge or research that is beyond a Master's skill. Their research techniques are flawless, and they will have such a good memory that they can recall on demand almost any knowledge they've learned throughout their lives, and apply that to practical observations to see how their knowledge really stacks up.
With even a mediocre library, insights that are beyond those in the materials they research and the observations they make, can lead them to greater understanding. It seems that by sheer intuition that a master can come to the exact right conclusion about a field of study.
Specialist Knowledge Post-Master Level
Research is unique as a skill in that it affords a benefit once a PC achieves Mastery (151 exp and 33 knowledge). Once this level is reached, the PC may accrue "Specialist Knowledge" in research, which provides academic bragging rights and indicates the level of knowledge in a PC's specialist area. These knowledges still contribute to the grandmaster and capstone knowledge requirements, but also add to their specialty level.
Specialist knowledge requests must be formatted in the following way:
Research: (Specialism: Subject): Full knowledge description.
When the PC has 10 Specialism Knowledges in one specialism, they are a Specialist in that. This means that, for example, a PC may have Surgery as a skill. By researching amputation, for instance, they develop their specialist understanding in this.
In the request, the player should request, for example
Research: (Specialism: Surgery - Amputation): Case study history helps provide background.
When the PC has 10 knowledge in this specialism (Surgery - Amputation) they are a specialist. It doesn't make them better at performing amputations, as it denotes a theoretical understanding. However, it adds to academic credentials as an 'expert' in a field. Also - if an amputation is happening - someone with 40 knowledge specifically in it is more likely to be called - and / or to remember the odd case where "this" happened - and so it adds to the narrative for the PC. These knowledges still apply to the Research Skill only (and do not also count as surgery knowledge) - but they show that the PC is focusing their study. The knowledges per specialism are unique and specific to that specialism only, so the specialism can not be too broad.
This continues to accrue in the following way.
10 Knowledge = Specialist L1
20 Knowledge = Specialist L2
40 Knowledge = Specialist L3
Every 50 knowledge thereafter the PC gains a new Specialist level.
This applies equally to non-skills (eg: Immortal Studies, Arcane Theory, History) as skills as it indicates theoretical knowledge.
.
Credit: Faith & Rakvald
Research Techniques
The techniques of researching information. There are a number of ways of researching information and this skill covers them all. The most common methods of research include:
Library Research: includes, but is not limited to; understanding library indexing systems, identifying validity of information, cross-referencing, cross-checking and so on. So, the individual who researches theories of psychology in the library is using this technique.
Empirical Research: includes, but is not limited to: observations 'in the real world' / 'in the field'. This might be someone - also studying psychology - who observes behaviour in groups, or watches non-verbal communication.
Experimental Research: includes, but is not limited to: conducting experiments / practical tests to find out information. This may be the person who (as a student of psychology) wants to find out if people perform a well-known task better in familiar or unfamiliar surroundings and so conducts an experiment to find out.
It must be remembered - research is the skill of finding out information. Therefore, how it is done can (and does) vary.
Specialist Study
As people develop in their knowledge and understanding, they may pursue more and more specialist study. This skill allows, at the higher levels, players to develop areas of specialist study. Becoming an "expert in the field" brings kudos with it and allows nerdy bragging-rights.
Skill Levels
Novice: 0-25
Here a researcher is just beginning to realize that learning is a vexing endeavor, marred by false conclusions which throw them off track when it comes to finding the truth of matters. At the earliest levels of a novice, the researcher will often reach incorrect conclusions that lead them astray. They will suffer errors and setbacks that throw them off the trail.
At the higher levels of a novice, the researcher will have found some research techniques that keep them from following a false lead too far into error. Their conclusions will prove clipped and brief but generally well-founded enough. It's not until they reach competence, that they will begin to find traction in their search for knowledge.
Competent: 26-75
Competent researchers will have refined their earlier techniques, and are more often coming to conclusions that are sound. They will have devised a methodology for meticulous fact-checking and cross-referencing information to ascertain its veracity. The process of researching is still very time consuming, especially for the deeper and more buried facts and knowledge. They'll find benefit in having access to greater libraries, but will still have to do a lot of legwork in order to refine their information collections.
At this level, they will have perhaps begun to devise their own method of recording their findings. Here is where skill in writing and perhaps even teaching becomes increasingly useful and relevant. Having comparable skill levels of either or both skills can make their findings all the more convincing and easier to understand.
Expert: 76-150
At Expert, a researcher will have come a long way in their thirst for knowledge. Their cross-referencing and fact-checking skills are impeccable, and they will often be able to recall by sheer memory facts already taken on board and check their new findings or research materials in order to discern their academic value. The process of researching will have become far less time consuming, and only the rarest knowledge and facts still elude them, despite access to a quality library.
They will increase their ability to learn by practical observation. By observing an example of their area of specialization in research, they will be able to acquire knowledge just from the observation, which can then be checked against their increasingly acute memory of the facts they have learned well.
Master: 151-250
There's little in the way of academic knowledge or research that is beyond a Master's skill. Their research techniques are flawless, and they will have such a good memory that they can recall on demand almost any knowledge they've learned throughout their lives, and apply that to practical observations to see how their knowledge really stacks up.
With even a mediocre library, insights that are beyond those in the materials they research and the observations they make, can lead them to greater understanding. It seems that by sheer intuition that a master can come to the exact right conclusion about a field of study.
Specialist Knowledge Post-Master Level
Research is unique as a skill in that it affords a benefit once a PC achieves Mastery (151 exp and 33 knowledge). Once this level is reached, the PC may accrue "Specialist Knowledge" in research, which provides academic bragging rights and indicates the level of knowledge in a PC's specialist area. These knowledges still contribute to the grandmaster and capstone knowledge requirements, but also add to their specialty level.
Specialist knowledge requests must be formatted in the following way:
Research: (Specialism: Subject): Full knowledge description.
When the PC has 10 Specialism Knowledges in one specialism, they are a Specialist in that. This means that, for example, a PC may have Surgery as a skill. By researching amputation, for instance, they develop their specialist understanding in this.
In the request, the player should request, for example
Research: (Specialism: Surgery - Amputation): Case study history helps provide background.
When the PC has 10 knowledge in this specialism (Surgery - Amputation) they are a specialist. It doesn't make them better at performing amputations, as it denotes a theoretical understanding. However, it adds to academic credentials as an 'expert' in a field. Also - if an amputation is happening - someone with 40 knowledge specifically in it is more likely to be called - and / or to remember the odd case where "this" happened - and so it adds to the narrative for the PC. These knowledges still apply to the Research Skill only (and do not also count as surgery knowledge) - but they show that the PC is focusing their study. The knowledges per specialism are unique and specific to that specialism only, so the specialism can not be too broad.
This continues to accrue in the following way.
10 Knowledge = Specialist L1
20 Knowledge = Specialist L2
40 Knowledge = Specialist L3
Every 50 knowledge thereafter the PC gains a new Specialist level.
This applies equally to non-skills (eg: Immortal Studies, Arcane Theory, History) as skills as it indicates theoretical knowledge.
.
Credit: Faith & Rakvald
