Desk research, also known as secondary research, is the process of gathering information from existing sources such as books, articles, and online databases. It is a crucial step in any research project and helps to provide a solid foundation for further investigation. There are several synonyms for desk research, including literature review, document analysis, and data mining. Literature review involves reviewing the existing literature on a specific topic, while document analysis involves examining existing reports or documents related to the research question. Data mining involves extracting relevant information from large databases. Regardless of which synonym is used, desk research is an essential component of any successful research project.