Home / Tasks / Conduct research to gain information about products or processes
In 3 of the 17 jobs that do this, AI or robots already show up on it, most often as work people hand to AI. In the other 14, there's no evidence yet. Jobs spend a median of 12m of an 8-hour shift on it, and about 3.7 million U.S. workers hold these jobs.
Every job that does this
Each job words the task its own way. Minutes are that job's estimate for a typical shift; the label is the evidence for that job's version.
| Job and its version of the task | Per shift | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Materials ScientistsConduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones. | 1h 22m | No evidence yet |
| GeoscientistsPlan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application. | 44m | No evidence yet |
| Operations Research AnalystsObserve the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources. | 35m | No evidence yet |
| Natural Sciences ManagersConduct own research in field of expertise. | 21m | Often handed to AI |
| Telecommunications Engineering SpecialistsCommunicate with telecommunications vendors to obtain pricing and technical specifications for available hardware, software, or services. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsResearch new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies. | 18m | No evidence yet |
| Biological TechniciansParticipate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Health Informatics SpecialistsDesign, conduct, or provide support to nursing informatics research. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Web and Digital Interface DesignersResearch and apply innovative solutions for product design, visuals, and user experience to meet the needs of individual Web development projects. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and TechniciansConduct research, data analysis, systems design, or support for software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Global Positioning Systems (GPS) mapping software. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Computer Network Support SpecialistsResearch hardware or software products to meet technical networking or security needs. | 12m | Often handed to AI |
| Computer Network ArchitectsResearch and test new or modified hardware or software products to determine performance and interoperability. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Computer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsResearch, test, or verify proper functioning of software patches and fixes. | 12m | No evidence yet |
| Chief ExecutivesDirect or conduct studies or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility. | 9m | No evidence yet |
| Computer User Support SpecialistsConduct office automation feasibility studies, including workflow analysis, space design, or cost comparison analysis. | 6m | No evidence yet |
| Web DevelopersResearch, document, rate, or select alternatives for Web architecture or technologies. | 6m | Often handed to AI |
| SurveyorsConduct research in surveying and mapping methods, using knowledge of photogrammetric map compilation and electronic data processing. | under 1m | No evidence yet |
How to read this
This task type comes from O*NET's detailed work activities, which link similar tasks across jobs. A label applies to one job's version of the task: AI use comes from real AI conversations (Anthropic Economic Index) and robot evidence from deployments in real workplaces. "No evidence yet" may just mean the task is rare in the data. How we keep time.
See all 250 shared tasks, or find any job on the big clock.