What is the function of the 'Research' tool in Word?

The 'Research' tool in Word serves the primary function of helping users conduct citations and find information online. This feature integrates resources from the internet directly into the document. It allows users to search for relevant information, gather data, and create proper citations for academic or professional writing. By enabling access to external scholarly articles, web pages, and various sources, it enhances the writing and research process significantly.

In contrast to the other options, the tool is not designed for writing essays without sources, which would defeat the purpose of ensuring proper credit is given to original authors. Additionally, while Word has capabilities to format documents, the 'Research' tool specifically focuses on sourcing information rather than formatting. Lastly, although tracking changes is an important feature in Word, it pertains to document editing and revisions rather than researching content or managing citations. Thus, the correct answer effectively captures the primary role of the 'Research' tool within the application.