How To Find A Research Gap | Mastering Guide
A research gap is an area where a problem or question has yet to be addressed by existing research within a particular field. This gap is what makes your research both relevant and unique. Identifying these gaps can sometimes be challenging, but it’s a vital step in the research process. Sometimes, a research gap exists when a new idea has yet to be studied.
However, a thorough review of the existing literature is vital to identify a research gap in any field. This involves reading and critically analysing peer-reviewed articles, books, reports, and other scholarly works related to your research topic. By doing so, you can identify what has been studied, what hasn’t, and where your research can contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
So, if your thesis or research project is coming up, you’ll need to find a suitable research gap that is more complex than you think. With professional guidance, you can effortlessly navigate any challenge while identifying the research gap. In this post, we’ll share a straightforward process to help you uncover high-quality, original research gaps in a very time-efficient manner.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH GAP?
Now, let’s begin with a basic understanding of a research gap. When you start reading papers or books on topics of interest, you may find some areas with significant scope for more research. But they have yet to be noticed by other researchers. In other words, a research gap refers to unexplored regions with scope for further study.
WHY IS IDENTIFYING A UNIQUE RESEARCH GAP IMPORTANT?
Imagine You’ve put significant time and effort into conducting your research. Gather, train it and draw insightful conclusions. Excitedly, you publish your findings, expecting to contribute something new to your field. But then, you discover that another researcher has already done this topic. The disappointment would be immense.
This is why identifying gaps in your research area is so crucial. These gaps represent unexplored or under-explored areas in your field. By focusing your research on these areas, you can ensure that your work is original and contributes something new to the body of knowledge in your field.
CHALLENGES STUDENTS FACE WHILE IDENTIFYING RESEARCH GAPS
Finding gaps and coming up with new innovative topics or solutions can be tricky, and students face kind of challenges. Here’s a list of challenges students might meet while identifying research gaps in their chosen study area.
DEALING WITH HUGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION
You will find thousands of unanswered questions in your area of interest. So, you will find yourself in a challenging situation. When students find more than one research gap, they need clarification about which one to focus on.
ZERO PERCENTAGE SEARCHING SKILLS
Some students may need help with research skills. They might need to learn how to conduct and organise searches or gather relevant data for their studies. This could be due to a lack of understanding of research methodologies or needing to learn how to use research tools effectively.
HESITATION IN QUESTIONING
Some students need more confidence to challenge the existing knowledge in their field. They also hesitate to question what others have claimed in their work.
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HOW TO FIND A RESEARCH GAP
We have learned what a research gap is, why it is essential, and what challenges you will face while working on it. Now, it’s time to find potential research gaps to use as a basis for possible research topics.
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UNDERSTAND THE EXISTING LITERATURE
The very first step to identifying a research gap is that it is crucial for you to have a comprehensive understanding of the literature in your field of study. For this, a systematic review of relevant scholarly articles, books, conference papers, and all reliable sources available will be conducted. This will provide you with a robust foundation and insights into your current knowledge in your area of interest.
SEEK HELP FROM YOUR RESEARCH ADVISOR
You can also discuss issues and problems with your advisor to generate ideas for research. Speaking about your ideas, knowing what others think, and working on them help you identify your study area. Or even identify mistakes in your approach. If you find the questions or research you have collected interesting, you can discuss it with your supervisor and get their feedback and suggestions.
TAKE HELP FROM DIGITAL TOOLS
If you want to study recent research papers, familiarise yourself with your field’s trending queries. For this, you can use digital tools as they can save time and help you professionally. Websites like Essential Science identify the most cited papers, which will help determine which essential topics are covered. You can also use Google Trends to learn more about the popular questions regarding your research area.
ANALYSE EXISTING STUDIES
Carefully study all existing studies related to your research question. Moreover, the literature review should look for common themes, recurring findings, and patterns. Pay close attention to all areas with conflicting results and contradictory theories. These areas often indicate potential research gaps that you can explore further.
REVIEW AND SHORTLIST ARTICLES
Once you’ve analysed a few searches, you must scan the results to see what looks most relevant and exciting. For this, you can look at the titles and abstract descriptions provided by Google Scholar.
RESEARCH EVERY QUESTION
After you shortlist articles and list all the questions that could be explored, you have to start researching them. What does this mean? It means you have to read more about each question that you have. Find out if other researchers have had similar questions and whether they have found answers to them or not. This will help you avoid duplication of work.
RESEARCH GAP EXAMPLE
Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health, Particularly Among Teenagers.
Existing Research: There’s a vast amount of research on this topic, showing both positive and negative correlations between social media use and mental health in teens.
Gap: While extensive research is being done, most studies focus on general social media use. A gap exists in understanding the impact of specific social media platforms (e.g., TikTok vs. Instagram) and how usage patterns (e.g., time spent lurking vs. actively posting) influence mental health in different age groups.
CONCLUSION
Identifying a research gap is a crucial step in the research process, allowing researchers or graduate students to contribute to advancing knowledge and addressing existing limitations. Understanding the existing literature, defining a straightforward research question, and analysing current studies can effectively identify research gaps.
Consulting with the supervisor, conducting studies, and reflecting on progress further enhance the identification process. By following all the steps we discuss above, you will quickly embark on impactful studies that push the boundaries of knowledge. And make a meaningful contribution to their respective fields.