Here is a very brief description of several methodologies aimed at helping us get the answers we seek during the research phase of a project. There are many others, and there will be many more developed as the software design industry continues to mature. I would recommend searching the Internet or other related books for more implementation details and examples of their usage.
Getting the project details from the primary stakeholders is likely the first thing we will need to do to get started on any project. The list of potential questions can be quite long. However, they usually roll up under one of the following primary questions:
Who is going to use this software or site?
What tasks does the user wish to accomplish?
What does the maker of the software or site wish to accomplish?
What technology will be used? (Are there any limitations to consider?)
Why would the public use your software or site over another?
What content will...