先行研究

• Reading: せんこうけんきゅう
• Romaji: senkoukenkyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (sen) — before, previous; 行 (kou) — go, conduct; 研 (ken) — polish, study; 究 (kyuu) — investigate, research
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.koː.keɴ.kjɯː/

Meaning

Prior research; previous studies. Academic work that has already been done on a particular topic.

A noun used almost exclusively in academic and research contexts. Refers to the body of existing research on a topic that a researcher reviews before conducting their own study. Essential in thesis writing, academic papers, and literature reviews. Common patterns include 先行研究を調べる (senkoukenkyuu wo shiraberu, review prior research) and 先行研究によると (senkoukenkyuu ni yoru to, according to prior research).

Examples

1. 論文を書く前にまず先行研究を十分に調べた。 Before writing my thesis, I thoroughly reviewed the prior research.
2. 先行研究ではこの現象についてまだ解明されていない点が多い。 Prior research has left many aspects of this phenomenon unexplained.
3. 先行研究の結果と自分の実験結果を比較した。 I compared my experimental results with those from prior research.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, research, thesis writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 先行 (senkou, preceding/prior) + 研究 (kenkyuu, research). Literally 'preceding research' — studies that came before one's own work on the same topic.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Academic