Rather than thinking "I want to write about this topic", I just became invested in that topic first and went down the hyperfixation rabbit hole for a long time until I am deep in the trenches. Then I think "maybe if i put soogyu here it would be pretty cool". Then as I'm writing if I encountered something I was not sure, I googled. It also helped that I have access to academic database so I can look up some journal articles and books if needed, and fill in the gaps.

So to answer your question I don't have a standard research progress. I just became deeply invested enough that I write. For example, the User's Guide to Handling Your Jungler. I didn't think that I wanted to write a soogyu esport fic and begun right away. It was like this: two years ago I read an esport danmei and became interested. Then I talked to my friends who play league and i made an account and played and became invested in the game. Then i watched pro matches and joined the esport fandoms so I had an idea how fandoms and LCK work. I have favourite teams, I know how players interact, I know draft rules. I also watch a lot of commentary of different casters. Like I watch these videos when I have dinner instead of netflix bc I genuinely found them interesting. Then I started writing bits and pieces. A year later I accumulated enough to form a fic structure it's when I start to write. Similar to the previous fics. Except I'm not a doctor nor am I an investigators. The doctor and detectives are mostly adapted from shows and I became so invested i watch youtube videos and read books and articles on them. So rather than research its indulgence 😂