check if field (already) contains a word

check if field (already) contains a word

before populating, the following 

  1.           <div  class="PAN2">
  2.                 <input type="radio" id="pick2"   />

 contains  only [object HTMLInputElement]

the user can populate this field with a word or not.

how to check at some stage if the field contains a (any) word?