In this study, it is aimed to investigate pre-service elementary mathematics teachers' perceptions about scientific research with metaphor analysis and determine the foundations of these perceptions. This phenomenological study was conducted with 182 participants. The data were collected with two open-ended survey forms formed for investigating the metaphors and their reasons, and the reasons which are important in shaping these perceptions. The data were analysed in descriptive and content analysis methods based on the aim of the study. The findings can be summarised as follow: The participants created 156 metaphors and the most cited metaphor is "universe". The most distinctive features of the scientific research given by the participants were its hierarchic structure in application, presenting new knowledge and requiring much effort. The least cited feature of the research was its falsibiality. In addition, it was found that though teachers, scientific research methods course and internet are very important in the process of perception creation about scientific research, the experts in the areas have little effect on this process.