Final answer:
True, conducting background research is beneficial for gaining an overview of the topic and informing the in-depth research process. It helps formulate original ideas, provides a direction for further inquiry, and enables effective audience engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, before you begin to do in-depth research, it is indeed helpful to do background research to get an overview of your topic. Starting with background research enables you to gain a general understanding of the subject matter, which can inform your research questions and methodology. When you write down your initial impressions or brainstorm before looking into scholarly sources, you ensure that your own original ideas remain at the forefront. This process also lays the groundwork for formulating a strong thesis, debate position, or hypothesis by grounding your assertions on a solid base of general knowledge .Engaging with general reference works such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and atlases provides a quick overview and can guide you to more detailed sources. It is equally important to interact with librarians who can show you available resources and provide expert assistance. Having this preliminary understanding also facilitates better planning for potential issues and ensuring the thoroughness of your research, not to mention it can improve the quality of any subsequent interviews or detailed studies you may conduct. Ultimately, knowing the scope of your topic and having a grasp on general information will also help you determine how much emphasis to place on background information depending on your audience's familiarity with the topic.