Research is a big part of being a writer.  You might have a wicked talent for creating characters, threading plot-lines and scoring dialogue but if you do no research then you work will probably have some holes.

Some writers love research, others hate it.  I flash between the two depending on my mood.

Now, my personal rule is that any writer worth their salt who WANTS to be published someday has a good collection of reference books in their home.  Or knows intricately the layout of the reference section in their local library.