Research is not just looking up journal articles to learn new ideas/concepts. True academic research takes many years to complete and involves rigorous work. That isn’t what you are expected to have accomplished when applying for residency.
Most residency programs want to know that you understand what it takes to do research, and start to work towards it.
Various type of medical student research can involve case reports, case series, review articles, retrospective studies involving databases, and quality improvement work. Getting involved with fellow medical students and current residents on ongoing projects is a great way to get real exposure to research. Furthermore, writing abstracts and journal articles takes great practice and discipline. Additionally, presenting your research at a national conference is a great learning experience too!