What does it mean word for word?
The phrase trabajo de investigación literally means "work of investigation", composed of trabajo (work/job), de (of) and investigación (investigation/research).
Which one should you use?
While trabajo de investigación is a general term for a research paper, artículo de investigación is the more precise term used in academic publishing to denote a research article.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both trabajo de investigación and artículo de investigación are formal ways to express the concept of a research paper.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term monografía is an alternative way to refer to research papers within undergraduate or graduate studies.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, only the noun trabajo changes to trabajos. The phrase de investigación remains unchanged, resulting in trabajos de investigación for "research papers".
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaxo de imbestiɡaθjon/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use papel (which refers to a physical sheet of paper) to translate the academic sense of "paper". Instead, you should use trabajo or artículo.
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking academic contexts, the term tesina is used specifically to refer to a shorter research paper or a minor thesis required for a degree.
Did you know?
- The word investigación shares its roots with the Latin word 'investigare', which literally means 'to track' or 'to follow a footprint'. This visualizes the researcher as someone following a trail to find the truth.
- The term tesina is used in several Spanish-speaking countries to describe a specific academic milestone. It is a research paper that is too large to be a simple trabajo but not substantial enough to be a full tesis.
- While a 'paper' in English is often a short assignment, a monografía in Spain implies a comprehensive, single-topic study. Using monografía suggests a deeper level of specialization than a standard classroom essay.
Examples in context
- El profesor nos pidió que escribiéramos un artículo de investigación sobre el cambio climático.The professor asked us to write a research paper on climate change.
- La doctora presentó un trabajo de investigación en la conferencia médica.The doctor presented a research paper at the medical conference.
- El estudiante escribió un informe de investigación sobre la historia del arte antiguo.The student wrote a research paper on ancient art history.
- Tengo que terminar mi trabajo de investigación.I have to finish my research paper.
- El trabajo de investigación es muy largo.The research paper is very long.
- Ella publicó su trabajo de investigación en la revista.She published her research paper in the journal.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in a university library.
- María¿Ya terminaste tu trabajo de investigación, Mateo?Have you finished your research paper yet, Mateo?
- MateoNo, María, todavía me falta mucho.No, María, I still have a lot left to do.
- MaríaYo también estoy estresada con el mío.I am also stressed with mine.
- MateoEs un trabajo de investigación muy difícil.It is a very difficult research paper.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, investigación, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
