Researching optimistic outlook (7,2)
I believe the answer is:
looking up
'researching' is the definition.
(looking up is a kind of researching)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for looking up that I've seen before include "using a reference book?" , "Improving" , "How those lying see things" , "What is a star-gazer doing" .)