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The Research Gap (Literature Gap)

I f you’re just starting out in research, chances are you’ve heard about the elusive research gap (also called a literature gap). In this post, we’ll explore the tricky topic of research gaps. We’ll explain what a research gap is, look at the four most common types of research gaps, and unpack how you can go about finding a suitable research gap for your dissertation, thesis or research project.

Overview: Research Gap 101

• What is a research gap
• Four common types of research gaps
• Practical examples
• How to find research gaps
• Recap & key takeaways

What (exactly) is a research gap?

Well, at the simplest level, a research gap is essentially an unanswered question or unresolved problem in a field, which reflects a lack of existing research in that space. Alternatively, a research gap can also exist when there’s already a fair deal of existing research, but where the findings of the studies pull in different directions , making it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

For example, let’s say your research aims to identify the cause (or causes) of a particular disease. Upon reviewing the literature, you may find that there’s a body of research that points toward cigarette smoking as a key factor – but at the same time, a large body of research that finds no link between smoking and the disease. In that case, you may have something of a research gap that warrants further investigation.

Now that we’ve defined what a research gap is – an unanswered question or unresolved problem – let’s look at a few different types of research gaps.

Types of research gaps

While there are many different types of research gaps, the four most common ones we encounter when helping students at Grad Coach are as follows:

• The classic literature gap
• The disagreement gap
• The contextual gap, and
• The methodological gap

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1. The Classic Literature Gap

First up is the classic literature gap. This type of research gap emerges when there’s a new concept or phenomenon that hasn’t been studied much, or at all. For example, when a social media platform is launched, there’s an opportunity to explore its impacts on users, how it could be leveraged for marketing, its impact on society, and so on. The same applies for new technologies, new modes of communication, transportation, etc.

Classic literature gaps can present exciting research opportunities , but a drawback you need to be aware of is that with this type of research gap, you’ll be exploring completely new territory . This means you’ll have to draw on adjacent literature (that is, research in adjacent fields) to build your literature review, as there naturally won’t be very many existing studies that directly relate to the topic. While this is manageable, it can be challenging for first-time researchers, so be careful not to bite off more than you can chew.

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2. The Disagreement Gap

As the name suggests, the disagreement gap emerges when there are contrasting or contradictory findings in the existing research regarding a specific research question (or set of questions). The hypothetical example we looked at earlier regarding the causes of a disease reflects a disagreement gap.

Importantly, for this type of research gap, there needs to be a relatively balanced set of opposing findings . In other words, a situation where 95% of studies find one result and 5% find the opposite result wouldn’t quite constitute a disagreement in the literature. Of course, it’s hard to quantify exactly how much weight to give to each study, but you’ll need to at least show that the opposing findings aren’t simply a corner-case anomaly .

3. The Contextual Gap

The third type of research gap is the contextual gap. Simply put, a contextual gap exists when there’s already a decent body of existing research on a particular topic, but an absence of research in specific contexts .

For example, there could be a lack of research on:

• A specific population – perhaps a certain age group, gender or ethnicity
• A geographic area – for example, a city, country or region
• A certain time period – perhaps the bulk of the studies took place many years or even decades ago and the landscape has changed.

The contextual gap is a popular option for dissertations and theses, especially for first-time researchers, as it allows you to develop your research on a solid foundation of existing literature and potentially even use existing survey measures.

Importantly, if you’re gonna go this route, you need to ensure that there’s a plausible reason why you’d expect potential differences in the specific context you choose. If there’s no reason to expect different results between existing and new contexts, the research gap wouldn’t be well justified. So, make sure that you can clearly articulate why your chosen context is “different” from existing studies and why that might reasonably result in different findings.

4. The Methodological Gap

Last but not least, we have the methodological gap. As the name suggests, this type of research gap emerges as a result of the research methodology or design of existing studies. With this approach, you’d argue that the methodology of existing studies is lacking in some way , or that they’re missing a certain perspective.

For example, you might argue that the bulk of the existing research has taken a quantitative approach, and therefore there is a lack of rich insight and texture that a qualitative study could provide. Similarly, you might argue that existing studies have primarily taken a cross-sectional approach , and as a result, have only provided a snapshot view of the situation – whereas a longitudinal approach could help uncover how constructs or variables have evolved over time.

Practical Examples

Let’s take a look at some practical examples so that you can see how research gaps are typically expressed in written form. Keep in mind that these are just examples – not actual current gaps (we’ll show you how to find these a little later!).

Context: Healthcare

Despite extensive research on diabetes management, there’s a research gap in terms of understanding the effectiveness of digital health interventions in rural populations (compared to urban ones) within Eastern Europe.

Context: Environmental Science

While a wealth of research exists regarding plastic pollution in oceans, there is significantly less understanding of microplastic accumulation in freshwater ecosystems like rivers and lakes, particularly within Southern Africa.

Context: Education

While empirical research surrounding online learning has grown over the past five years, there remains a lack of comprehensive studies regarding the effectiveness of online learning for students with special educational needs.

As you can see in each of these examples, the author begins by clearly acknowledging the existing research and then proceeds to explain where the current area of lack (i.e., the research gap) exists.

How To Find A Research Gap

Now that you’ve got a clearer picture of the different types of research gaps, the next question is of course, “how do you find these research gaps?” .

Well, we cover the process of how to find original, high-value research gaps in a separate post . But, for now, I’ll share a basic two-step strategy here to help you find potential research gaps.

As a starting point, you should find as many literature reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses as you can, covering your area of interest. Additionally, you should dig into the most recent journal articles to wrap your head around the current state of knowledge. It’s also a good idea to look at recent dissertations and theses (especially doctoral-level ones). Dissertation databases such as ProQuest, EBSCO and Open Access are a goldmine for this sort of thing. Importantly, make sure that you’re looking at recent resources (ideally those published in the last year or two), or the gaps you find might have already been plugged by other researchers.

Once you’ve gathered a meaty collection of resources, the section that you really want to focus on is the one titled “ further research opportunities ” or “further research is needed”. In this section, the researchers will explicitly state where more studies are required – in other words, where potential research gaps may exist. You can also look at the “ limitations ” section of the studies, as this will often spur ideas for methodology-based research gaps.

By following this process, you’ll orient yourself with the current state of research , which will lay the foundation for you to identify potential research gaps. You can then start drawing up a shortlist of ideas and evaluating them as candidate topics . But remember, make sure you’re looking at recent articles – there’s no use going down a rabbit hole only to find that someone’s already filled the gap 🙂

Let’s Recap

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this post. Here are the key takeaways:

• A research gap is an unanswered question or unresolved problem in a field, which reflects a lack of existing research in that space.
• The four most common types of research gaps are the classic literature gap, the disagreement gap, the contextual gap and the methodological gap.
• To find potential research gaps, start by reviewing recent journal articles in your area of interest, paying particular attention to the FRIN section .

If you’re keen to learn more about research gaps and research topic ideation in general, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog . Alternatively, if you’re looking for 1-on-1 support with your dissertation, thesis or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching service .

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43 Comments

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it very good but what need to be clear with the concept is when di we use research gap before we conduct aresearch or after we finished it ,or are we propose it to be solved or studied or to show that we are unable to cover so that we let it to be studied by other researchers ?

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Doing research in PhD accounting, my research topic is: Business Environment and Small Business Performance: The Moderating Effect of Financial Literacy in Eastern Uganda. I am failing to focus the idea in the accounting areas. my supervisor tells me my research is more of in the business field. the literature i have surveyed has used financial literacy as an independent variable and not as a moderator. Kindly give me some guidance here. the core problem is that despite the various studies, small businesses continue to collapse in the region. my vision is that financial literacy is still one of the major challenges hence the need for this topic.

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Home » Research Gap – Types, Examples and How to Identify

Research Gap – Types, Examples and How to Identify

Table of Contents

A research gap is an essential concept in academic and scientific research, representing areas where existing knowledge is limited, contradictory, or absent. Identifying and addressing research gaps is critical for advancing knowledge, contributing new insights, and ensuring the relevance of research studies. This article provides an in-depth exploration of research gaps, their types, real-world examples, and methods for identifying them effectively.

Research Gap

A research gap refers to unexplored or underexplored areas within a research field, where questions remain unanswered, inconsistencies exist, or insufficient evidence is available. It signifies an opportunity for researchers to investigate and contribute new insights that address these deficiencies.

For instance, while there might be substantial research on the effects of exercise on physical health, a gap may exist regarding its impact on mental health among specific demographics, such as elderly populations.

Types of Research Gaps

Research gaps can be categorized based on the nature of the knowledge deficit. Below are the primary types:

1. Knowledge Gap

A knowledge gap occurs when there is insufficient or outdated information on a topic. This may arise in rapidly evolving fields or subjects that have not been extensively studied.

• Example : Limited research on the long-term environmental impact of biodegradable plastics.

2. Evidence Gap

This gap exists when research findings are inconclusive, contradictory, or lack sufficient empirical evidence to support claims.

• Example : Conflicting studies on the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in reducing anxiety.

3. Methodological Gap

Methodological gaps occur when existing research uses inadequate or outdated methods, leaving room for new approaches to yield more reliable or comprehensive results.

• Example : Most studies on workplace productivity rely on self-reported surveys, but few use objective performance metrics.

4. Contextual Gap

This type of gap arises when research focuses on a general context but neglects specific settings, populations, or regions.

• Example : Extensive studies on e-learning effectiveness in urban areas but limited research on rural schools.

5. Theoretical Gap

A theoretical gap occurs when existing frameworks or theories fail to explain certain phenomena, or when no theory has been developed for a particular topic.

• Example : Lack of a unified theory explaining the psychological impact of social media use across different age groups.

6. Practical Gap

Practical gaps exist when research does not address real-world applications or fails to provide actionable recommendations.

• Example : Studies on renewable energy technologies often lack insights into cost-effective implementation strategies for small businesses.

7. Population Gap

This gap occurs when certain groups, such as minorities, children, or elderly populations, are underrepresented in research.

• Example : Limited studies on the effectiveness of digital health interventions for individuals with disabilities.

Examples of Research Gaps

Example 1: climate change.

• Knowledge Gap : Insufficient understanding of microplastic accumulation in polar ecosystems.
• Evidence Gap : Contradictory findings on the role of cloud seeding in mitigating global warming.

Example 2: Health Sciences

• Methodological Gap : Most studies on diabetes management rely on short-term data, with few examining long-term adherence to lifestyle changes.
• Contextual Gap : A lack of research on healthcare disparities in low-income countries.

Example 3: Education

• Practical Gap : Studies highlight the benefits of technology-enhanced learning but rarely address challenges such as accessibility and cost.
• Population Gap : Limited research on the impact of remote learning on neurodiverse students.

How to Identify Research Gaps

Identifying research gaps requires a systematic approach to reviewing existing literature, analyzing trends, and understanding the needs of the field. Below are the key steps:

Step 1: Conduct a Comprehensive Literature Review

Review existing research, focusing on:

• Published journal articles.
• Books and book chapters.
• Conference proceedings.
• Theses and dissertations.

Tools to Use :

• Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science.
• University library databases.

What to Look For :

• Areas with limited studies.
• Contradictory findings.
• Repeated conclusions suggesting opportunities for further research.

Step 2: Analyze Recent Systematic Reviews

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses often highlight research gaps by summarizing current knowledge and identifying areas needing further investigation.

Example : A meta-analysis on exercise and cognitive health may conclude that additional research is needed on specific age groups, such as children or elderly populations.

Step 3: Consult Field Experts

Engage with academics, practitioners, or professionals to identify pressing questions or challenges in the field. Experts often provide insights into practical or theoretical gaps not yet addressed in the literature.

Tip : Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars to stay updated on ongoing discussions in your area of research.

Step 4: Evaluate Methodological Limitations

Examine the methodologies used in existing studies to identify weaknesses or opportunities for improvement.

Example : Many behavioral studies rely on self-reported data, which may introduce bias. A gap exists for research using objective measures or triangulated methods.

Step 5: Identify Trends and Emerging Topics

Stay informed about trends and emerging issues in your field through news articles, blogs, and industry reports. Emerging technologies, policies, or global challenges often create new research opportunities.

Example : The rise of AI in healthcare creates gaps related to ethical considerations, patient privacy, and long-term impact.

Step 6: Examine Underrepresented Populations or Contexts

Focus on populations, regions, or contexts that have received less attention in the literature.

Example : Most studies on remote work focus on developed countries, leaving a contextual gap in understanding its impact in developing economies.

Step 7: Use Citation Analysis

Examine highly cited papers to identify areas where researchers frequently call for further studies. The “limitations” or “future research” sections in articles often highlight research gaps.

Example : A study on social media marketing may conclude with recommendations for further exploration of its impact on small businesses versus large corporations.

Best Practices for Addressing Research Gaps

• Be Specific : Clearly define the gap you intend to address and explain its significance.
• Use Robust Methods : Select methodologies that improve upon previous studies and produce reliable results.
• Collaborate : Engage with multidisciplinary teams to explore gaps from different perspectives.
• Propose Practical Solutions : Where possible, offer actionable recommendations or applications for your findings.

Research gaps represent opportunities for innovation and advancement in any field. By identifying and addressing these gaps, researchers contribute new knowledge, solve pressing problems, and influence practice or policy. Whether through comprehensive literature reviews, expert consultations, or analyzing emerging trends, a systematic approach to finding research gaps ensures the relevance and impact of scholarly work.

• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . Sage Publications.
• Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2021). The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success (4th ed.). Corwin Press.
• Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review (2nd ed.). Sage.
• Cooper, H. (2016). Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis: A Step-by-Step Approach (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
• Ridley, D. (2012). The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students . Sage Publications.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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What is a research gap? Is there a good or poor research gap?

Introduction.

A research gap refers to a research question or area that has not been sufficiently addressed or answered in previous studies. It is an area where further research is needed to advance the current knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. Identifying research gaps in the literature review is important as it helps establish a study’s relevance and significance and can lead to the development of new research questions and hypotheses.

What is a research gap example?

A research gap signifies an unexplored terrain within existing knowledge, spotlighting an area lacking comprehensive investigation. Imagine, in medical research, a void in understanding the long-term effects of a newly developed treatment. This gap identification demands inquiry to bridge the chasm between current understanding and untapped insights. It’s akin to a puzzle with a missing piece, urging scholars to unravel hidden complexities. Such gaps drive scholarly exploration, fostering innovation and a deeper grasp of intricate subjects. Identifying and addressing these literature gaps in research pave the way for scientific advancement, enhancing our comprehension of the world around us.

Good research gap

A good research gap is a specific area of knowledge or a problem that has not been adequately addressed or explored in the existing literature. Here are 10 points that are typically considered mandatory in a good research gap:

• Relevance : The quantitative research gap example should be relevant to the field of study and have practical significance.
• Novelty : It should identify a new, unexplored area of research or a new angle for examining an existing research topic .
• Significance : The gap should be significant enough to warrant further investigation and have the potential to contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
• Feasibility : The research question should be feasible and realistic, taking into account factors such as time, resources, and available data.
• Clarity : The gap should be clearly defined, not too broad or too narrow.
• Specificity : The gap should be specific enough to allow for targeted research.
• Timeliness : The research question should be relevant to current issues or concerns in the field.
• Originality : The gap should be original and not simply a replication of previous research.
• Researchable : The gap should be researchable, meaning that data can be collected and analyzed to answer the research question.
• Importance : The research gap should be important enough to justify the time and resources required to conduct the research.

Poor research gap

“Poor research gap” refers to a situation where there is either no research gap identified in the existing literature or the identified research gap is not significant enough to contribute to the field of study. It means that the proposed research would not add any value to the existing knowledge base or research in the field.

Here are some examples of poor research gaps:

• “There is a lack of research on the effects of social media.”

This research gap is too broad and does not identify a specific research question or problem. It does not provide any direction for the research.

• “No one has looked at this specific topic before.”

This research gap is not valid as it is unlikely that no one has ever looked at the topic before. It is also too broad and does not provide any direction for the research.

• “The literature review is inconclusive.”

This research gap does not identify a specific problem or research question. It also does not provide any direction for the research.

• “There is no research on this topic in my country.”

This research gap is too narrow and does not consider research conducted in other countries. It also does not provide any direction for the research.

• “The existing research is outdated.”
• Check out our sample PhD Gap identification examples to see how PhD Gap identification is obtained.

Tools to Assist with Your Research Gap

Staying updated on the latest literature can be overwhelming due to the thousands of new articles published daily. Utilizing technology like PubCrawler, Feedly, Google Scholar, and PubMed updates can help keep you updated. Social media platforms like Twitter and reference managers like Mendeley can also help organize your references. Identifying the research gap in the dissertation requires a thorough literature review, but it’s important to set boundaries and not read every paper on a topic. Finding a paper you had intended to write is possible, but don’t give up. Keep reading, and you’ll find what you’re looking for. Identifying research gaps requires an extensive literature review, but don’t give up and keep reading to find what you’re looking for.

• Check out our study guide to learn more about Identifying Research Gaps to Pursue Innovative Research.

In conclusion, a research gap signifies the unexplored terrain within a field where existing literature falls short. It is the pivot for innovation and advancement, propelling scholarly inquiry forward. A research gap can be either promising or inadequate. A significant research gap opens doors to groundbreaking discoveries, generating insightful contributions. Conversely, a poor research gap might lead to redundant studies or trivial outcomes. Recognizing and addressing a research gap thoughtfully can guide researchers toward valuable inquiries, enriching the academic landscape. Ultimately, the quality of a research gap lies in its potential to ignite meaningful exploration and cultivate knowledge that shapes the trajectory of a discipline.

About PhD Assistance

At PhD Assistance , we discover research gaps not only by a broad examination of current published literature but also through a detailed study of the material by categorizing it into geographical origin settings and multi-component-based research. This segregation identifies the disparity not only in the idea but also in the demographic components of the study. This well-rounded strategy results in a more defined and concentrated research field, which adds much-needed innovation to an academic research study.

• Davis, Stephen H. “Bridging the gap between research and practice: what’s good, what’s bad, and how can one be sure?.”  Phi Delta Kappan 8 (2007): 569-578. https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217070880080
• Tavernise, Sabrina. “Education gap grows between rich and poor, studies say.”  The New York Times 9 (2012).
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What Is A Research Gap? (With Tips + Examples)

A research gap is a specific area within a field of study that remains unexplored or under-explored. Identifying a research gap involves recognizing where existing research is lacking or where there are unanswered questions that could provide opportunities for further investigation. Understanding research gaps is crucial for advancing knowledge, as it helps scholars and researchers focus their efforts on areas that can contribute significantly to their field.

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What Is A Research Gap?

It is actually a question or any issue that needs to be solved by any pre-existing work or research in your area of study. A research gap can also exist where some new idea still needs to be studied.

Tips on Identifying Research Gap

Research always plays an essential role in acquiring more knowledge and addressing the gaps in different fields. When you are identifying a research gap, you are taking a very important step in the whole research process. This aids the researchers in contributing meaningful insights and triggers the knowledge boundaries.

Understanding the Literature You Are Studying: In order to identify any research gap, it is essential to have an excellent advertising of the preexisting literature in your study field.

Here, you need to conduct a review of many books, scholarly articles, conferences, and other relevant sources. In this way, you can get a good foundation as well as insights into any present state of in-depth knowledge in your own study area.

Defining Your Own Research Question: After getting a good knowledge of the pre-existing literature, you need to define a concise and clear idea of the research question. This research question needs to be very specific, attainable, measurable, time-bound and relevant. An acronym for this entire thing is known as SMART. This also needs to address any significant issue that still needs to be fully solved or adequately answered.

Identifying Your Study Objectives: Here, you need to identify the major objectives of your research paper. All these objectives need to be aligned with the identified research gap. These objectives always guide the researcher and aid you in determining the direction and scope of your research study.

Analyze the Existing Studies: Here, you need to analyze very carefully all the existing studies that are related to your research question. Here, it would help if you looked at the most common recurring findings, themes, and patterns of the discussed literature. Here, you also need to pay a lot of attention to the conflicted areas with the results, unanswered questions, and contradictory theories. These areas show the research gaps that can be explored later.

Consider The Practical Relevance: You always need to evaluate the very practical relevance of the research question as well as its potential impact on society. Here, it would help if you always considered the importance of addressing your own research gap as you identified it.

Here, you also need to assess whether your findings can contribute to the original theoretical framework and offer all the practical solutions for leading to the policy recommendations. These practical ads are relevant to the research paper and trigger its impact.

Consulting With the Experts and Peers: You always need to engage you’re discussing with your mentors, peers, and experts in your own field of study. Here, you always need to seek their opinions and perspectives on the research question to identify potential research gaps.

These can provide valuable insights into assumption challenges, and this helps you refine your research work. Your peers and experts can give you a new idea and help you identify the errors in your thinking.

Conducting Your Pilot Study: You need to conduct it to test the viability and feasibility of the research question. This pilot study provides you with feedback and data on the research design, approach and methodology.

This also helps you identify the potential limitations or challenges that need to be solved before conducting the full research studies.

Reflecting and Refining: You need to vividly reflect on the research progress to refine your research preferences. You need to add the objectives. As you go deeper into your research process, additional research gaps may be uncovered to refine your own research needs.

If you follow this process, you can adapt your own approach to ensure the research gaps.

As per the example of the research gap, identifying your research gap allows your research to contribute to gaining more knowledge to address the pre-existing limitations.

This way, you will understand the existing literature to define a crystal clear research statement. You can identify the research gaps by analyzing the existing studies to consider their relevance. According to the research gap finder, if you consult with your peers, doing all the pilot studies reflects on your research process progress.

If you follow the guide mentioned above, you can always embark on meaningful research studies to trigger your knowledge in your subject area and make a prominent contribution to your field.

Also Read: Struggling with Research Paper Writing?

Different Types of Research Gaps

Identifying research gaps is essential for advancing knowledge in any field. Research gaps are areas where more information is available or existing research needs to be more consistent or conclusive. Here are different types of research gaps:

• Evidence Gap

This gap occurs when no empirical evidence supports certain theories, practices, or interventions. It can also refer to areas where existing studies need to sufficiently cover the topic or lack rigorous methodological approaches.

Example: A need for randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of a new drug.

• Knowledge Gap

This gap refers to areas where there is a deficiency in understanding or awareness about a particular topic. It can be due to outdated information, incomplete research, or the absence of research on emerging issues.

Example: Limited knowledge about the long-term effects of exposure to new environmental pollutants.

• Theoretical Gap

Theoretical gaps arise when existing theories do not fully explain certain phenomena or when there is a lack of theoretical frameworks to guide research in a particular area.

Example: More theoretical models need to be developed to explain the psychological impacts of social media usage on teenagers.

• Methodological Gap

Methodological gaps exist when current research methods are inadequate for addressing certain research questions or when there is a need for new or improved methodologies.

Example: More robust qualitative methods are needed to study the experiences of marginalized communities.

• Population Gap

This type of gap occurs when certain populations are underrepresented in research. It can involve demographics like age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.

Example: Lack of research on the mental health of older adults living in rural areas.

Geographical Gap

Geographical gaps refer to areas or regions that are under-researched. These gaps highlight the need for studies in different geographic contexts to understand local issues better.

Example: Limited studies on the effects of climate change in the Arctic regions.

Strategies to Identify Research Gaps:

• Literature Reviews: Comprehensive reviews can help identify where current research is lacking or inconsistent.
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: These methods provide a structured approach to synthesize existing research and identify gaps.
• Expert Consultations: Discussions with experts in the field can uncover areas that require further investigation.
• Research Databases: Utilizing databases and citation analysis tools to track research trends and identify under-researched areas.
• Interdisciplinary Approaches: Engaging with multiple disciplines can reveal gaps that are not apparent within a single field.

Understanding and addressing these gaps is crucial for advancing research and knowledge across various domains.

Read More: How To Get A+ Grade In Research Paper?

What is a Research Gap Example?

A Research Paper Example gives you a very clear idea of how to find your research gaps and examples in textual forms. A few examples are given below:

• Context Healthcare: Although there have been enough researchers on the management of diabetes, there has been a research gap in understanding the impact of digital health interventions in the rural areas of Europe.
• Content environmental science: In a wealth of research regarding the huge environmental pollution caused by the use of plastics, there are fewer findings of how the plastic material really accumulates in certain areas like lakes, rivers, etc. and why these materials are never biodegradable.
• Context Education: The empirical research surrounding the online mode has become tremendously popular over the past few years. However, there needs to be more solid studies regarding the impact of the online learning process on the students who need special education. In each of these examples, you can see that the writer begins by acknowledging the preexisting reach results and then explains thoroughly the present area where the research gap really exists.

Also Read: Why Research Is Essential For Students? 20 Common Reasons!

How to Find a Research Gap?

After getting a very clear idea of various types of research gaps, the vet’s next question comes to mind is how to find a research gap. There is a basic 2 step strategy to find the research gap.

In the beginning, you need to find a lot of literature reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews covering your research area of interest. Moreover, it would help if you dug into the very recent journals for wrapping your head in your own knowledge area.

Here, you can also study the current theses and dissertations, especially those in the doctoral degree courses. A number of dissertation databases, such as Open Access, EBSCO, Pro-Quest, etc., are very useful in this regard. Here. You also need to ensure that you are always looking for the most recent sources.

After gathering a good collection of these resources, you need to focus on further research opportunities. In this section, you need to state explicitly where more studies are needed. It would help if you also looked at the present research study’s limitation areas and where the research gaps might exist.

Following this procedure will help you become oriented to the present research area. This can serve as a foundation for finding the potential research gaps. Then, you need to shortlist the main ideas and evaluate them as per the given topic. It would help if you also looked only for the recent articles here.

Also Read:  Expert Literature Review Writing Services

How to Deal with Literature Gap?

In any project, a literature review is always very important. It helps you in identifying your excusing knowledge, methods and theories in your own field. However, conducting a literature review has its own challenges.

• Defiling your research question: The very first step is to define your own research question very clearly and briefly. It will help you narrow your scope and focus on the crucial sources. It would help if you used less information here. Your research must always be very specific, answerable, and original. The research project always needs to have real objectives and a purpose.
• Searching and selecting the sources: Your next step is to search and select the sources. That is very much reliable and relevant to your research field. There are a number of databases, like keywords, search engines, etc., related to your study field. However, there are also a lot of limitations to these tools, like currency, coverage, and quality of the sources. Here, certain criteria have to be applied to filter the sources, such as relevance, authority, timeline, and accuracy of the information.
• Analyzing and synthesizing the literature: This is the third step, where you need to analyze and synthesize the literature you selected. Here, you need to summarize the sources and compare, contrast and critique them. In this section, you also need to look for the similarities and differences, the strengths and weaknesses, and the gaps and inconsistencies of the literature review paper. The writers can also identify the major trends, themes, and debates in the discussed field. These should also be related to your research question.
• Fill in the gaps after identifying them: This is the 4th step to filling the literature review research paper. This gap needs to be addressed or is under the researched area and is to be addressed by you with the help of your knowledge. These gaps can be filled by looking for the limitations, contradictions or controversies in the review. You can also do this by asking new questions or proposing new ideas. The gaps can also be filled by providing the newest evidence, arguments or even insights related to your field of study.
• Organizing and structuring the literature review: This is the 5th step of your review, where you need to organize and structure the whole paper in a compact and logical manner. Here, you always need to follow certain guidelines as given by your institute and use the best style and font. Proper headings, subheading citations, and traditions should also be used here. This will help your readers follow your arguments and understand what you want to say. A very clear introduction should also be written, along with a good conclusion and summary to highlight your writing.
• Refining and Revising: The literature review is the final step of writing your literature review. Here, you need to ensure that your review is quite accurate, concise and clear. You must check your literature review thoroughly to make it free from errors, gaps, or inconsistencies in language, content, or presentation. Here, you can also seek feedback from your peers, experts or supervisors in your own field. Their suggestions will help you in performing well. The whore literature review should be thoroughly proofread and edited before the final submission.

Last but not least, never copy from any source; it will be considered plagiarism, and your paper will be cancelled then and there. Thus, write only from your own creativity and not from the writing and articles of other writers.

Read More: Dissertation Literature Review For Masters & PhD

Final Words

Writing a research paper is a challenging task. It would help if you had a lot of Research Skills to accomplish it. You will be given a Research topic on which you have to write. Your ultimate aim in writing the research paper is to get the top grade. This can be done by availing of the best online Case Study Help Service from a reliable provider. The Casestudyhelp is the best choice for you in this respect.

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What is a Research Gap

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Table of Contents

If you are a young researcher, or even still finishing your studies, you’ll probably notice that your academic environment revolves around certain research topics, probably linked to your department or to the interest of your mentor and direct colleagues. For example, if your department is currently doing research in nanotechnology applied to medicine, it is only natural that you feel compelled to follow this line of research. Hopefully, it’s something you feel familiar with and interested in – although you might take your own twists and turns along your career.

Many scientists end up continuing their academic legacy during their professional careers, writing about their own practical experiences in the field and adapting classic methodologies to a present context. However, each and every researcher dreams about being a pioneer in a subject one day, by discovering a topic that hasn’t been approached before by any other scientist. This is a research gap.

Research gaps are particularly useful for the advance of science, in general. Finding a research gap and having the means to develop a complete and sustained study on it can be very rewarding for the scientist (or team of scientists), not to mention how its new findings can positively impact our whole society.

How to Find a Gap in Research

How many times have you felt that you have finally formulated THAT new and exciting question, only to find out later that it had been addressed before? Probably more times than you can count.

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 fields 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:

• Elsevier’s Scope
• Google Scholar

Of course, these tools may be more or less effective depending on knowledge fields. There might be even better ones for your specific topic of research; you can learn about them from more experienced colleagues or mentors.

Find out how FINER research framework can help you formulate your research question.

Literature Gap

The expression “literature gap” is used with the same intention as “research gap.” When 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/literature gap or, on the other hand, making 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 subject 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.

Language Editing Services by Elsevier Author Services:

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Identifying Research Gaps to Pursue Innovative Research

This article is an excerpt from a lecture given by my Ph.D. guide, a researcher in public health. She advised us on how to identify research gaps to pursue innovative research in our fields.

What is a Research Gap?

Today we are talking about the research gap: what is it, how to identify it, and how to make use of it so that you can pursue innovative research. Now, how many of you have ever felt you had discovered a new and exciting research question , only to find that it had already been written about? I have experienced this more times than I can count. Graduate studies come with pressure to add new knowledge to the field. We can contribute to the progress and knowledge of humanity. To do this, we need to first learn to identify research gaps in the existing literature.

A research gap is, simply, a topic or area for which missing or insufficient information limits the ability to reach a conclusion for a question. It should not be confused with a research question, however. For example, if we ask the research question of what the healthiest diet for humans is, we would find many studies and possible answers to this question. On the other hand, if we were to ask the research question of what are the effects of antidepressants on pregnant women, we would not find much-existing data. This is a research gap. When we identify a research gap, we identify a direction for potentially new and exciting research.

How to Identify Research Gap?

Considering the volume of existing research, identifying research gaps can seem overwhelming or even impossible. I don’t have time to read every paper published on public health. Similarly, you guys don’t have time to read every paper. So how can you identify a research gap?

There are different techniques in various disciplines, but we can reduce most of them down to a few steps, which are:

• Identify your key motivating issue/question
• Identify key terms associated with this issue
• Review the literature, searching for these key terms and identifying relevant publications
• Review the literature cited by the key publications which you located in the above step
• Identify issues not addressed by  the literature relating to your critical  motivating issue

It is the last step which we all find the most challenging. It can be difficult to figure out what an article is  not  saying. I like to keep a list of notes of biased or inconsistent information. You could also track what authors write as “directions for future research,” which often can point us towards the existing gaps.

Different Types of Research Gaps

Identifying research gaps is an essential step in conducting research, as it helps researchers to refine their research questions and to focus their research efforts on areas where there is a need for more knowledge or understanding.

1. Knowledge gaps

These are gaps in knowledge or understanding of a subject, where more research is needed to fill the gaps. For example, there may be a lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind a particular disease or how a specific technology works.

2. Conceptual gaps

These are gaps in the conceptual framework or theoretical understanding of a subject. For example, there may be a need for more research to understand the relationship between two concepts or to refine a theoretical framework.

3. Methodological gaps

These are gaps in the methods used to study a particular subject. For example, there may be a need for more research to develop new research methods or to refine existing methods to address specific research questions.

4. Data gaps

These are gaps in the data available on a particular subject. For example, there may be a need for more research to collect data on a specific population or to develop new measures to collect data on a particular construct.

5. Practical gaps

These are gaps in the application of research findings to practical situations. For example, there may be a need for more research to understand how to implement evidence-based practices in real-world settings or to identify barriers to implementing such practices.

Examples of Research Gap

Limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of a disease:.

Despite significant research on a particular disease, there may be a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disease. For example, although much research has been done on Alzheimer’s disease, the exact mechanisms that lead to the disease are not yet fully understood.

Inconsistencies in the findings of previous research:

When previous research on a particular topic has inconsistent findings, there may be a need for further research to clarify or resolve these inconsistencies. For example, previous research on the effectiveness of a particular treatment for a medical condition may have produced inconsistent findings, indicating a need for further research to determine the true effectiveness of the treatment.

Limited research on emerging technologies:

As new technologies emerge, there may be limited research on their applications, benefits, and potential drawbacks. For example, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence in various industries, there is a need for further research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI.

How to Deal with Literature Gap?

Once you have identified the literature gaps, it is critical to prioritize. You may find many questions which remain to be answered in the literature. Often one question must be answered before the next can be addressed. In prioritizing the gaps, you have identified, you should consider your funding agency or stakeholders, the needs of the field, and the relevance of your questions to what is currently being studied. Also, consider your own resources and ability to conduct the research you’re considering. Once you have done this, you can narrow your search down to an appropriate question.

Tools to Help Your Search

There are thousands of new articles published every day, and staying up to date on the literature can be overwhelming. You should take advantage of the technology that is available. Some services include  PubCrawler ,  Feedly ,  Google Scholar , and PubMed updates. Stay up to date on social media forums where scholars share new discoveries, such as Twitter. Reference managers such as  Mendeley  can help you keep your references well-organized. I personally have had success using Google Scholar and PubMed to stay current on new developments and track which gaps remain in my personal areas of interest.

The most important thing I want to impress upon you today is that you will struggle to  choose a research topic  that is innovative and exciting if you don’t know the existing literature well. This is why identifying research gaps starts with an extensive and thorough  literature review . But give yourself some boundaries.  You don’t need to read every paper that has ever been written on a topic. You may find yourself thinking you’re on the right track and then suddenly coming across a paper that you had intended to write! It happens to everyone- it happens to me quite often. Don’t give up- keep reading and you’ll find what you’re looking for.

Class dismissed!

How do you identify research gaps? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

A research gap can be identified by looking for a topic or area with missing or insufficient information that limits the ability to reach a conclusion for a question.

Identifying a research gap is important as it provides a direction for potentially new research or helps bridge the gap in existing literature.

Gap in research is a topic or area with missing or insufficient information. A research gap limits the ability to reach a conclusion for a question.

Thank u for your suggestion.

Very useful tips specially for a beginner

Thank you. This is helpful. I find that I’m overwhelmed with literatures. As I read on a particular topic, and in a particular direction I find that other conflicting issues, topic a and ideas keep popping up, making me more confused.

I am very grateful for your advice. It’s just on point.

The clearest, exhaustive, and brief explanation I have ever read.

Thanks for sharing

Thank you very much.The work is brief and understandable

Thank you it is very informative

Thanks for sharing this educative article

Thank you for such informative explanation.

Great job smart guy! Really outdid yourself!

Nice one! I thank you for this as it is just what I was looking for!😃🤟

Thank you so much for this. Much appreciated

Thank you so much.

Thankyou for ur briefing…its so helpful

Thank you so much .I’ved learn a lot from this.❤️

Very exciting and useful piece for researchers.

Your are awesome, it’s a great article.

Thanks alot. It is very useful

The kind of article I have been looking for. Thanks for this

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What is a Research Gap and How to Identify it?

This lecture will briefly discuss the meaning, nature, and dynamics of a research gap. In particular, it will address the following questions:

1) What is a research gap ?

2) What is the importance of identifying the research gap?

3) How to identify a research gap?

In addressing these three important questions, this lecture will give more weight on the third question. This is because many fledgling scholars and master’s and doctoral students struggled in identifying the gap in their research, thesis, or dissertation. Hence, it is the goal of this lecture to spare them the unnecessary burden of circling the mountain several times before getting to the top.

So, what is a research gap?

Understood more broadly, a research gap is the problem that researchers would want to see addressed in the research. As the name suggests, it is the gap that researchers fill with their proposed research project.

Hence, a research gap is “what is missing” or “what is not addressed” in the current state of knowledge. Put simply, a research gap is the question or problem that has not been answered in your area of specialization. For this reason, the research gap establishes “the need” or the “importance, urgency, and necessity” of your proposed research project, thesis, or dissertation.

This explains why all types of research always begin with a research gap. Indeed, no research activity is possible without the research gap.

Please note that this is what experienced reviewers or thesis/dissertation panel members are looking for during thesis or dissertation proposal defense. Thus, if your proposed thesis or dissertation does not have or does not clearly articulate the research gap, then chances are your thesis or dissertation proposal will be rejected and you have to do your research again from scratch.

This is the problem with many master’s and doctoral students when they write their thesis or dissertation. In most cases, because they are inexperienced researchers and, sometimes, they do not consult their thesis/dissertation adviser regularly, they simply start with a research aim and thought that it’s already the research gap. But the research gap is not the same with the research aim. And in some cases, master’s and doctoral students just copied or patterned their thesis or dissertation on previous researches.

Let us consider the example below.

Supposed the working title of the thesis/dissertation proposal is “Imposed Career Study among University Students in Hong Kong”. With this title, we can have the following research aim:

“The proposed research aims to determine the lived experiences of those students who were just forced to take a certain career course according to the wishes of their parents or significant others and how it affects the psycho-emotional and social wellbeing of these students.”

Again, many master’s and doctoral students thought that the aim is already the problem or the research gap of the proposed research project. But as already mentioned, it is not.

So, what could possibly be the research gap of the above proposed research project?

Based on the above research aim, we can have, for example, the idea:

“The researcher may have learned from experience or through literature review that there are university students in Hong Kong who were just forced to take certain career course according to the wishes of their parents or significant others and that these students were devastated and became rebellious in schools. For this reason, these students may become social delinquents in the future. Now, based on the researcher’s initial review of related literature, it was found out that no study has been conducted on the topic.”

As we can see, the problem is that there are university students in Hong Kong who were just forced to take a certain career course according to the wishes of their parents or significant others. As a result of being just forced to take a certain career course, these students have become devastated and rebellious, which in turn will make them as social delinquents in the future. Also, there has been no study conducted on this topic in Hong Kong. This is exactly what we meant by a “research gap”. This is “what is missing” or “what has not been addressed” in the current state of knowledge in this field. And with this research gap, we can now formulate the research aims, which reads:

If one may ask why the need for this study, then the researcher may add:

“The researcher argues that there is a need to determine the lived experiences of these students so that we can create a career decision-making program as an alternative in addressing the problem.”

As we can see, identifying the research gap and articulating it in the “background” or “rationale” of the study is important not only because it will spare the researcher the unnecessary toil of making major revision, but also because it will make the research publishable. For sure, if the researcher clearly identifies the research gap and articulates it in the background of the study, the reviewers or thesis defense panel members will be able to conclude right away that the proposed research project is unique and original because it is not a duplication of what have been done in the past. This will also send a message to the reviewers or thesis defense panel members that the researcher has deep knowledge of the topic under investigation. As is well known, finding original and innovative topics in the chosen field as well as identifying and articulating the research gap is never an easy feat.

Now that we have briefly discussed the nature and meaning of a research gap and its importance, the next question is how do we identify the research gap?

For experienced researchers, because they already have broad and deep knowledge on their chosen field of specialization, they can easily identify a research gap. However, for fledgling scholars as well as master’s and doctoral students, as already mentioned, identifying a research gap is never an easy feat. But the application of some proven techniques will somehow help ease the process. 

Let me briefly discuss the three important techniques in identifying a research gap. 

Of course, there are a number of techniques on how to identify a research gap, but the three points introduced below are the most effective ones. 

First, when thinking of a topic in your field of specialization, it would greatly help if you start with something that you are passionate about, something that would seem like second skin to you. 

For some obvious reason, being passionate at something makes you push yourself harder, and despite working long hours on it, you will still manage to smile. In fact, if you love what you are doing, then long and hard labor is turned into “play”. Hence, despite the hardships, you keep doing your research because you enjoyed it. 

Of course, starting with something that you are passionate about in relation to identifying a research gap involves “choosing a particular topic” in your discipline or field of specialization. For instance, if your discipline is “education”, then you might be passionate about doing research on “teachers’ burnout level”, “philosophy of education”, “critical pedagogy”, or “lived experiences of teachers handling subjects not in line with their field of specialization”.

If your discipline is psychology, then you might be passionate about doing research on “social cognition”, “social control”, “racism”, “verbal communication”, or even “attraction, romance, and love”.

Second, once you have chosen a topic that you are passionate about, the next step is to “determine the mega trends and recent debates” in your discipline or field of specialization. This is important because once you know the mega trends or recent debates in your discipline or field of specialization, you can easily identify what have and have not been done in your discipline.

Determining the mega trends and recent debates in your discipline is also important because it will ensure that your research is timely and necessary. You have to remember that you do not do research for the sake of doing research, of completing a master’s or doctoral degree. You do research because there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Hence, a particular research is timely if the topic is one of the mega trends and recent debates in the field and it is necessary if it attempts to address a serious problem that requires urgent consideration.

Of course, determining the mega trends and recent debates in your discipline implies doing a literature review. This leads us to the third and last point.

Needless to say, you need to review recent literature in your chosen discipline or field of specialization so you may know what scholars have done so far. In this way, you will be able to identify possible gaps that you can fill in. For example, if your discipline is anthropology and you are passionate about doing research on the indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia, then you need to review literature on indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia in the last, say, 3-5 years.

Now, suppose several famous scholars on indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia have published on “the marginalization” of the Dayak indigenous people in Borneo, then this is precisely one of the mega trends and recent debates in this field of specialization.

Suppose you are interested in joining the discussion or debate on this topic, then you need to identify what have not been done by those scholars. It could be a problem that remains unsolved or a new insight that may help shed light on the issue being debated upon.

How do you do this?

Suppose there are 5 famous scholars working on the topic “the marginalization” of the indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia, particularly the Dayak indigenous people in Borneo. What you need to do now is review these pieces of literature and identify their concepts and arguments. For instance, you may say:

Scholar 1 , in her work titled “Modernism and the Dayak People of Borneo”, says that the Dayak indigenous peoples in Borneo have been pushed further to the periphery by the forces of modernity, such as consumerism. 

Scholar 2 , in his work titled “Militarism in Borneo”, argues that one of the causes of the marginalization of the Dayak people in Borneo is the imposition of militarization in the island. 

Scholar 3 , in her work titled “The Resiliency of the Dayak People”, says that despite the constant presence of social forces that marginalized the Dayak people, the researcher found out that the Dayak people are very resilient. In fact, they have overcome every challenge that they faced and easily returned to their normal life. 

Scholar 4 , in his work titled “Different Faces of Marginalization in Borneo”, says that the Dayak people have been marginalized by different forces of globalization, such as the logging and mining companies. 

Lastly, scholar 5 , in her work titled “Rights, Recognition, and the Dayak People”, narrates not only how the Dayak people have been marginalized by the forces of globalization but also the basic and inalienable rights of the Dayak people.

Now, after reviewing these important pieces of literature about the marginalization of the Dayak people, you realized that no scholar on the Dayak people, so far as you know, has done research on “the way in which the Dayak people resisted any forms of marginalization”. 

As you can see, this issue is one of the important topics on the debate about the marginalization of the Dayak people in Borneo, yet no scholar has brought this issue on the table. Hence, this could be a possible “gap” in this area of specialization that you can fill in with your research on the way in which the Dayak people resisted any forms of marginalization. 

With this “research gap”, you may work, for example, on “the Dayak people’s struggle for recognition of their rights to ancestral domain”. Your working title may read:

“ Self-Determination and the Dayak People’s Struggle for Recognition ” 

And your research’s main goal reads: 

“ This proposed thesis aims to explore how the Dayak people in Borneo resisted the forces of globalization that marginalized them .” 

So, that’s what a research gap is and how to identify it.

Please note, however, that what I shared above are just some of the techniques on how to identify a research gap. There are other techniques that might help you in identifying a research gap or you may want to develop your own. What is important at this point is that through the discussion above you have now a basic understanding of what a research gap is and how to identify it. 

And lastly, please note that the principles that we applied in the above discussion on how to identify a research gap can be applied to all disciplines, be they social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, education, engineering, mathematics, or psychology.