Research can be defined to be search for knowledge or any systematic investigation to establish facts. The primary purpose for applied research (as opposed to basic research) is discovering, interpreting, and the development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the universe. Research can use the scientific method, but need not do so.

Scientific research relies on the application of the scientific method, a harnessing of curiosity. This research provides scientific information and theories for the explanation of the nature and the properties of the world around us. It makes practical applications possible. Scientific research is funded by public authorities, by charitable organisations and by private groups, including many companies. Scientific research can be subdivided into different classifications according to their academic and application disciplines.

Historical research is embodied in the scientific method.

The term research is also used to describe an entire collection of information about a particular subject.

Here are a few theories that have been used to explain workplace gender inequality. The human capital theory asserts that inequalities between men and women in the workplace are due to differences in skills and experience (human capital), not overt discrimination. I highly disagree with this theory. The gender socialization theory claims that women and men are socialized to behave in gender appropriate ways from an early age. Therefore, women seek out jobs that best allow them to “do” their gender and so do men. This theory was truer in the past, but today both women and men are breaking out of this. More women are entering previously male dominated fields and some men are entering women dominated fields. For example more women are becoming engineers or architects or obtaining high level managerial positions. Men are becoming elementary school teachers or nurses. The last theory is gender organization theory. This theory states that organizations and everyday workplace interactions contain normative gender expectations that privilege men and disadvantage women. This was definitely true in the past and unfortunately still persists today.

Gender inequality in the workplace effects women in a myriad of different ways. Women receive lower pay for the same job with equivalent qualifications. They are often passed up for promotion, or do not get hired over men. Women are also subjected to sexual harassment. Also, they often feel the need to be overaggressive to assert competence, especially in male dominated fields. This over-aggression then reflects poorly on women by fellow workers. Tokenism places extreme pressure on the women who represent their gender at their place of employment. Being the only or one of few women at your workplace causes everyone to consider you as representing your entire gender. All these effects create added struggles that women face everyday at work. I encourage you to look for these and be aware of such issues.

writen by zoe tribiyani

• What Are Numbers, Really?
  edge.org
  A cerebral basis for number sense by Stanislas Dehaene.
• CAS-CAT Project
  edfac.unimelb.edu.au
  University of Melbourne. Investigating the changes that regular access to calculators equipped with a computer algebra system will have on senior mathematics subjects, including curriculum, teaching methods and associated assessment in Victoria, Australia.
• Mathematics Education
  homepages.which.net
  Survey: perspectives on biology and mathematics. Looking at mathematics education for biology students.