Identifying a Research Gap
What is a research gap? Missing pieces or areas in the literature that have not yet been explored or are under-explored.
The gap could be in: population or sample (e.g., size, type, location, etc.); methodology; data collection and/or analysis; other research variables.
How to identify a gap:
- Figure out your topic or research area.
- Read the literature (articles, literature reviews, meta-analysis, systematic reviews).
- Tip: Read the "introduction," conclusion," and "suggestions for future research" sections which often mention the reasons why that research was done as well as where additional research is needed.
- Find additional articles.
- Tip: Mine the bibliography. Look at who has cited the article (Google Scholar, Web of Science).
