I've noticed with researchers that they seem to gain tech points before they are finished "researching" -- they will work at the table for a bit, then gain the tech points (and they do a little "curtsey" at the same time this happens), and then continue working for a bit longer.

This is really easy to see if you only have one researcher -- I think you can speed up your research if you grab the researcher as soon as they do the little curtsey thing and drop them on the table again...not sure though

-- jen