Research is defined as human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter. The primary aim for applied 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.
Research is when you search for stuff on the net, and you write it down in a book.
It's the question of whether it is possible to do research on a particular subject. Some questions are too ill-defined or based on information which cannot be verified objectively.