Research is useful at several stages in the adoption process.
It provides the basis for selection, for encouraging prayer, and for becoming familiar with the people. Library and Internet research is readily available for most groups. Some groups conduct on-site research. A trip provides a level of understanding unavailable any other way - the faces, sounds, smells, and touch of the people, as well as learning first hand from them. Research forms the basis for the prayer profile, a summary of information and a short vignette of the people with prayer needs highlighted.