History Main / DoingResearch

-> ''"I'm going to the crime scene to see what I can find out. You guys research the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Polgara demon]]."''
-->-- '''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]''', "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E14GoodbyeIowa Goodbye Iowa]]" and [[OnceAnEpisode most other episodes]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': One of Uncle's many catch phrases is "We must do reeesearch!"

** 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.

* 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.

[[caption-width-right:320:Looks like our soldiers brought us a full bag of spoils. [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique Interrogate every alien that moves]], [[AlienAutopsy autopsy any that doesn't]], find their AchillesHeel and [[InWorkingOrder learn to use their weapons against them.]] ForScience!]]

No. It’s time to [[DoingResearch hit the books]].

DoingResearch 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.

** ''VideoGame/MassiveChalice'' has made no secret that Enemy Unknown was a great influence on the game and as such it features a similar research mechanic.

* Every episode of ''Series/MythQuest''. Whenever Alex or Cleo enters a myth to look for their father, the other stays behind to find out everything they can about the myth. Terrible things would happen if they accidentally mess up the myth, and because they don't know what myth they'll be dealing with until they enter it, Doing Research is a stressful job.

Our characters head to the MagicalLibrary to consult the GreatBigBookOfEverything and the TomesOfEldritchLore. They search the MagicalDatabase 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]].

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

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

** The same applies to [[VideoGame/{{X-Com}} X-COM's]] spiritual successors, such as VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}.

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-> ''“I'm going to the crime scene to see what I can find out. You guys research the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Polgara demon]].”''
-->-- '''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]''', ''Goodbye Iowa'' and [[OnceAnEpisode most other episodes]]

* Alice's entire purpose as the scholar for TheWitchWatch involves doing research and so it's not surprising her first reaction to the situation is to hit the books

* Chloe on ''{{Smallville}}'' regularly played this role.
* The science montages in the ''{{CSI}}'' Franchise are halfway between this and HardWorkMontage.
* The title character of ''{{Series/Merlin}}'' does this very often, usually with the help of his mentor [[CoolOldGuy Gaius]].

Our characters head to the LibraryOfBabel to consult the GreatBigBookOfEverything and the TomesOfEldritchLore. They search the MagicalDatabase 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]].

[[quoteright:320:[[XCom http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ILoveScience_2294.jpg]]]]

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[[caption-width-right:320:Now remember boys, an AlienInvasion is stopped in the lab. Interrogate everything that moves, [[AlienAutopsy autopsy everything that doesn't]], [[InWorkingOrder make their toys useable by our troops]], and find out their AchillesHeel. ForScience!]]

* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Bud Roberts often had this role, in the earlier seasons.

* [[OnceAnEpisode Once a book]] in ''HarryPotter'', generally undertaken by Hermione.

-->-- '''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]''', ''Goodbye Iowa'' and [[OnceAnEpisode most other episodes]]

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

* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': Bud Roberts often had this role, in the earlier seasons.

Not to be confused with DidNotDoTheResearch or ShownTheirWork, which are about writers doing research.

* Many episodes of ''{{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.