1. Research is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to increase understanding of a phenomenon. It involves asking questions, developing a plan, collecting and interpreting data, and reaching conclusions. 2. Characteristics of research include originating from a question, having clear goals and plans, dividing problems into subproblems, being guided by the research problem or hypothesis, collecting and interpreting data, and being cyclical in nature. 3. A hypothesis provides a tentative explanation, a theory explains a phenomenon, and assumptions are foundational beliefs of a study. Methodology dictates how data is acquired and interpreted to expand knowledge.