Research Resource

increases your research rate by a certain %. (in other words you get to research stuff faster) add more modules to get better effects. usually you wont see dramatic changes until you're up to 25%

Early in the game--research level 30rp/turn. Harvest the research resource adds 5% to your research--so you are now up to a whopping 31rp/turn (rounding down). So no, initially you won't see much of an effect.

But later in the game--base research level 200rp/turn. Research resource built up to 25%, now you are up to 250rp/turn. Now you are getting somewhere.

You will want to send an additional 7 constructors, and choose the research increasing modules, to see the max benefits.

you also need the industrial tecs to keep improving your starbase bonus(s)

Early in the game--research level 30rp/turn. Harvest the research resource adds 5% to your research--so you are now up to a whopping 31rp/turn (rounding down). So no, initially you won't see much of an effect. But later in the game--base research level 200rp/turn. Research resource built up to 25%, now you are up to 250rp/turn. Now you are getting somewhere

nice backup

And if you REALLY want to see a difference with your own eyes rather than just through statistics. Let an enemy destroy a fully improved research resource. Then you'll notice a difference!

The AI always makes alliances in my games. Assuming war hasn't been running rampant. I notice it happens most if my civ is especially powerful.