research as a verb

[YuanqiZ223]

I remember that "research about something" or "research into something" are both correct. However, in OG 2020, I found a question with the explanation saying that it's incorrect to use "about", "into" or "on" following the verb "research". Is this always true?

the correct answer is:
Someone has taken a sabbatical to research the books James wrote.

Wrong answers:
Someone has taken a sabbatical to research about the books James wrote.
Someone has taken a sabbatical to research into the books James wrote.
Someone has taken a sabbatical to research on the books James wrote.

Thank you

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

I would agree with that explanation, with a few caveats. First, remember that the "official" explanations in the OG are not written by the problem-writers themselves and often contain contradictions and oddities. Second, there are other idioms for the noun 'research', for example 'She conducted research into new technology.' is fine by my standards. And, finally, the problem you're referring to does a typical thing for GMAT problems: if there's any chance of controversy of an idiom, then they usually provide other splits.