> Solve the problem manually, or with heuristics. This way, it will force you to become intimately familiar with the problem and the data, which is the most imp

> Solve the problem manually, or with heuristics. This way, it will force you to become intimately familiar with the problem and the data, which is the most important first step. Back then, when I did social research at university, I found it helpful to just look at the raw data. This is immensely helpful for familiarizing yourself with the data and discerning patterns that high-level analysis wont reveal easily. (In this case, you may want to start with a subset for evident reasons.)