the first step the research process is to define the problem that is to be answered by the research . This provide "the basic for thinking about the context of the research that will be needed and the general nature of the information required...to make the decisions . "This is the most important part of the process because it provide the focus and direction for the rest of the project. A problem that is unclear or that is poorly define can result in a significant loss of time and resources wasted on gathering potentially useless information and data. There is a saying in research that " a problem well define is a problem half solved.