Summarise What You Know and Do Not Know About a Topic Before You Research It

Starting research without first mapping your existing knowledge has two problems: you miss what you already know and waste time relearning it, and you search for confirmation of what you already believe rather than for what would change your understanding. This pre-research audit identifies your likely accurate beliefs, your probable misconceptions, your definite gaps, and gives you the two most efficient starting points.

Topic I am about to research: {RESEARCH_TOPIC}
Purpose of my research: {RESEARCH_PURPOSE}

Before I start, help me map my existing knowledge:
1. What I probably know accurately: the things I believe about this topic that are likely to be correct, based on widely held general understanding
2. What I probably believe that may be wrong: the common misconceptions about this topic that someone with my level of familiarity might hold
3. What I definitely do not know: the most important things a well-informed person would know about {RESEARCH_TOPIC} that I am unlikely to know yet
4. The two best first searches: the two most efficient starting searches or sources for my specific purpose, not general introductions
5. A question to keep in mind: one question I should hold throughout the research to prevent confirmation bias