"you don't need to research this to see that it's obviously true" is actually an incredibly important category of topic to research—because if you're right, then you have documented, peer-reviewed proof of what we believe to be true, which people can cite for writing their own papers...and if you're wrong...well, then, you've demonstrated something novel and possibly opened up a new area of research within your field.
Exactly. I have my degree as well, so I was doing some research of my own. It’s an ongoing thing.