Final answer:
The first step in the research process is asking a specific question, which helps to focus and guide the entire research project.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the research process is asking a specific question. This question should guide your lines of inquiry and helps to narrow the focus of your research, leading to a more specific and manageable scope. After selecting and refining your research question, the following steps typically involve gathering background information, developing a hypothesis, and collecting data relevant to your question. It's essential to begin with a question that relates to your topic of interest to keep the research process focused and efficient.