ABSTRACT
Research projects generally originate in what I have called ‘problem fields’. Problem fields contain the accumulated record of whatever has been discovered, theorized, postulated or proposed about the problems or topics that have become associated with a distinct area of inquiry. Getting to know the content of the field is therefore a prerequisite for identifying potential research problems. Researchers usually expend a great deal of effort familiarizing themselves with previous work by means of a literature search (see Chapter 5) and with ‘keeping up with the literature’ thereafter.
