Academic research largely consists in reading and writing texts. These texts can be modelled as a conversation. To be a reasercher, on this model, is to enter into a scientific conversation, to listen (read) and occassionaly to speak (write).
Texts embodying contributions to the scientific conversation are published as book chapters, articles in peer reviewed journals, conference papers &c. For the individual researcher, a major task involves identifying which of these published items are relevant to one’s research, to be able to study them and to respond.