Identifying a research gap is an essential step in conducting research. It refers to the lack of existing literature or studies on a specific topic or aspect of a particular field. Identifying research gaps helps researchers determine the scope and direction of their research, as well as contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field of study.
It is a question or a problem that has not been answered by any of the existing studies or research within your field. Sometimes a research gap exists when there is a concept or new idea is not studied at all. In simple words, a research gap is in an area that is unexplored or under-explored.
There are some steps you can take to help identify research gaps since it is impossible to go through all the information and research available nowadays:
Select a topic or question that motivates you:
Research can take a long time and surely a large amount of physical, intellectual, and emotional effort, therefore choose a topic that can keep you motivated throughout the process.
Find keywords and related terms to your selected topic:
Besides synthesizing the topic to its essential core, this will help you in the next step;.
Use the identified keywords to search literature: From your findings in the above step, identify relevant publications and cited literature in those publications. Look for topics or issues that are missing or not addressed within (or related to) your main topic.
Read systematic reviews:
These documents plunge deeply into scholarly literature and identify trends and paradigm shifts in the field of study. Sometimes they reveal areas or topics that need more attention from researchers and scientists.
Keeping track of all the new literature being published every day is an impossible mission. Remember that there is technology to make your daily tasks easier, and reviewing literature can be one of them. Some online databases offer up-to-date publication lists with quite effective search features:
Google Scholar
Elsevier’s Scope
PubCrawler
Feedly
A framework in research offers structure and guidance for planning methodologies, prioritizing the right questions, and constructing logical presentation sequences of the research itself. FINER research framework can help you formulate your research question. FINER criteria help scientists formulate a solid research question, by highlighting useful concepts. For example, is the research:
Feasible
Writing feasible research questions means that they can be answered under objective aspects like time, scope, resources, expertise, or funding. Some questions that you can ask yourself regarding feasibility are, for example: Is there enough time to conduct the research? Is there the technology and expertise I need to undertake my study? Can I pay for it? Is my study going to have the amount of effect and relevance for the audience that I am hoping? Do I have access to the group of interest – or number of participants – I need to obtain accurate results? If you are a newcomer in academia, you might consider asking for advice from more experienced researchers, and collaborating with a statistical consultant; statistical power is also a central issue in terms of feasibility.
Interesting
This might be the more subjective part of the FINER acronym. The interesting factor is highly dependent on the intrinsic individual drive for a specific knowledge field or scientific topic. The first thing is to find out what you consider interesting. As you have probably already discovered on your own, carrying on any kind of research is quite overwhelming and often demands self-motivation. Even if the topic of your choice turns out quite uninteresting for some people or institutions, it doesn’t mean it’s not exciting at all. In order to grow interest among your target audience, try building a strong and captivating rationale. Regardless of your own personal motivation about a subject, it is important to check if your question corresponds to more practical and broader interests. Ask yourself if your work will bring immediate benefits to society. For example, check the current interests of funding agencies. With this in mind, it’s possible to formulate a research question that generates interest both for you, as the author, and for the community.
Novel
In scientific literature, novelty defines itself by being an answer to an existing gap in knowledge. Filling one of these gaps is highly rewarding for any scientist – for it may represent a real difference in people’s lives. However, achieving such a goal demands extensive research. You must know, in-depth, what has been written before on the topic. If you don’t feel confident in your level of expertise on the matter, replicating prior methodologies in different contexts, like trial groups, for example, can be a smart move.
Ethical
In empirical research, ethics is an absolute MUST. Therefore, there are many independent entities that review and approve proposed studies, especially those involving human beings. Also, methods, protocols, and standardized formats for review have been developed in order to prevent any kind of incidents that we, in modern society, would understand as harmful, dishonourable, or unprincipled. Before you carry on with your study, make sure you are addressing safety and confidentiality measures, and acting according to the necessary protocols. For example, acquiring the consent of the participant population in the case of a clinical drug trial.
Relevant
Relevance alone can lead to real, visible changes in society. An idea that is considered relevant in the scientific community has a much better chance of being discussed by numerous scientists and recognized experts, leading to innovation and rapid information dissemination.
The expression “literature gap” is used with the same intention as “research gap.” There is a gap in the research itself, there will also naturally be a gap in the literature. Nevertheless, it is important to stress out the importance of language or text formulations that can help identify a research or literature gap or, on the other hand, make clear that a research gap is being addressed. When looking for research gaps across publications, you may have noticed sentences like:
………….has/have not been …….. (studied/ reported/ elucidated)
…………is required/ needed….
……….the key question is/remains…….
……….it is important to address……….
These expressions often indicate gaps; issues or topics related to the main question that still hasn’t been subjected to a scientific study. Therefore, it is important to take notice of them: Who knows if one of these sentences is hiding your way to fame.
Evidence Gap: There is little or no evidence to address the research problem. Results from studies allow for conclusions in their own right but are contradictory when examined from a more abstract point of view.
Knowledge Gap: The knowledge may not exist in the actual field. It might be the case that the result of a study differs from what was expected. Desired research findings do not exist.
Practical-knowledge Gap: When professional behavior or practices deviate from research findings or are not covered by the research.
Methodology Gap: A distinction in research methods is needed to have new insights or to avoid ambiguous findings.
Empirical Gap: Research findings need to be evaluated or empirically verified.
Theoretical Gap: Theory should be applied to certain research issues to generate new insights; a lack of theoretical knowledge may lead to a gap in research.
Population Gap: A type of research gap that deals with a population that is not adequately represented or under-researched in the prior research or evidence base (For example Gender, Age, Race).
You can also access free resources and templates and research writing guidelines on our website. If you ever need assistance with writing your research project or dissertation, our professional Dissertation Coaches, Researchers, Editors, and Proofreaders are ready to guide you through the research writing process!
