modest research

USAGE SUMMARY

"modest research" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe research that is limited in scope such as a relatively small study conducted by a single researcher. For example, "This modest research suggests that there may be a connection between the two variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The writer decided that he wanted to combine patient care and teaching with more modest research.

The New Yorker

"There is already a declaration under which a certain amount of modest research takes place," he said.

The Guardian

Since the 1970s, Yeshiva University has not only offered a Ph.D. in psychology but also a separate doctor of psychology degree, or Psy.D., for those more interested in clinical work than research; that program requires a more modest research paper.

The New York Times

Auto executives from domestic and foreign automakers alike said in speeches at the conference and during interviews that they would do more to adopt advanced technologies, although domestic Chinese automakers tend to have modest research budgets and rely on multinational partners for their vehicle designs.

The New York Times

To date, however, modest research addressed how large, local police and sheriff's departments confront Internet fraud.

Journal of Criminal Justice

Modest research has been done in cascaded systems based on natural refrigerants thereby offering good potential for research.

International Journal of Refrigeration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The consensus was that modest thermonuclear research should be pursued along theoretical lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A good nuclear deal should embrace some current options under discussion, including allowing Iran to retain limited enrichment at grade levels of 5% and a modest nuclear research and development programme.

The Guardian

Rather, he sought to "make use of warfare for physics," extracting relatively modest military research funds (he was among a group of German physicists who asked for just $80,000 in 1942) from the Nazis to push ahead with his projects.

The New York Times - Books

Your start-up package is probably markedly smaller than it would have been at a typical R1 university, and your lab space and facilities will be modest by research institution standards.

Science Magazine

The problems cited were the same as in other countries: a declining number of clinical researchers, difficulty in recruiting medical students into research, modest infrastructure and a lack of non-commercial funding for clinical research.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "modest research" to indicate that the findings may be preliminary and require further investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "modest research" to describe groundbreaking discoveries or large-scale studies; it's more appropriate for smaller, focused projects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "modest research" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "modest" modifies the noun "research", indicating research efforts that are limited in scale, scope, or funding. Ludwig examples confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Science & Research

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "modest research" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe research endeavors that are limited in scope, funding, or scale. As Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning is straightforward and widely accepted. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When writing, using this phrase is appropriate when wanting to convey caution or further study is required given a study's limitations. Alternatives such as "small-scale research" or "limited research" can be used, depending on the precise nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

small-scale research

Emphasizes the limited size and scope of the research project.

limited research

Highlights the restricted amount or extent of the research conducted.

minimal research

Suggests the research is reduced to the smallest possible amount or degree.

preliminary research

Indicates the research is in an early stage and not yet fully developed.

pilot study

Refers to a small-scale, initial study conducted to evaluate feasibility.

exploratory research

Highlights the research's aim to explore a topic without firm expectations.

focused research

Emphasizes a limited scope by narrowing down the research area of focus.

targeted research

Highlights that the research is geared toward a specific goal or objective.

basic research

Focuses on more fundamental or foundational, rather than applied, research, suggesting a narrower scope.

initial investigation

Implies a beginning phase of research, suggesting that future studies may expand the scope.

FAQs

How can I use "modest research" in a sentence?

You can use "modest research" to describe studies that are limited in scope or scale. For example, "The "modest research" suggests a potential correlation, but further investigation is needed."

What is a suitable alternative to "modest research"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "small-scale research", "limited research", or "preliminary research" can be used.

When is it appropriate to use "modest research"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the small scale, limited resources, or preliminary nature of the research being discussed. It's also important to be aware of the register, as explained by Ludwig.

Is "modest research" always a negative term?

Not necessarily. While it indicates limitations, it can also be a neutral or even positive way to describe focused or exploratory studies that contribute valuable insights within a defined scope.