Even that understates the importance of "trivial" research. Sometimes research projects don't work out - if you have a success rate of 100%, you're not doing re

Even that understates the importance of "trivial" research. Sometimes research projects don't work out - if you have a success rate of 100%, you're not doing research. Moreover, the minor research projects are your way of practicing, getting to know the literature, and getting to know what not to do (the Edison quote applies here) when you're doing research. If all of your research is of the trivial variety, you will not be doing research for long, because you won't be getting grants and you won't have a tenure track position at a school that gives you time for research.