Which of the following is the first step in an efficient,effective research process?

A) Understand the subject to develop insightful questions
B) Search for areas with critical gaps in data
C) Conduct a general online search and redefine it after reviewing results
D) Use a variety of search terms
E) Enter keywords into a search engine to search corporate sites

Before beginning any research project, it is important to have a clear understanding of the subject matter in order to develop thoughtful and insightful research questions. Without a solid understanding of the topic, it can be difficult to conduct effective research and draw meaningful conclusions. Therefore, understanding the subject matter is the first step in an efficient and effective research process.