Dive into Research Gaps

As an international students mentor, I was approached to share how to publish seven papers and a book within a year. While dedication, focus, and years of groundwork are essential components (many of my papers and books have been in conception for years and cannot be produced within a single year), self-training in research methodology and mindset is equally vital. I will share a series of useful tips over time. It's essential to note that these insights reflect my personal thought processes and aren't universally perfect. They may not be suitable for everyone and are meant for reference.

I'd like to emphasize that tools like ChatGPT cannot replace human intuition in academic endeavors. While AI might surpass human capabilities in the future, the identification of research gaps still relies on humans' deep understanding of specific issues. AI can only serve as a supplementary tool.

One common question when drafting research proposals or applying for fellowships is: "What gap will your research fill?" The underlying rationale is whether researchers should invest time and energy in replicating already well-established work. Addressing these gaps could significantly contribute to the field. However, many students describe these "gaps" vaguely, which often lacks credibility. In this post, I aim to elucidate how to think about the "research gap."

What is a Research Gap?

A research gap refers to areas within a particular field that haven't been addressed or fully explored. Specifically, when reading papers or books of interest, you might identify areas that remain unexplored or are in the early stages of investigation.

How to Identify Research Gaps?

Please approach these tips as flexible guidelines rather than rigid rules. Here are seven common types:

• Evidence Gap: Existing studies focus on theoretical aspects, but empirical evidence supporting these theories is lacking.

• Knowledge Gap: Existing studies provide conflicting views, and no research explains the cause of these discrepancies.

• Practical-Knowledge Gap: An issue frequently encountered in practice hasn't received sufficient academic attention.

• Methodology Gap: Current research methods addressing a problem have limitations.

• Empirical Gap: There's a lack of empirical evidence supporting a research question.

• Theoretical Gap: Although empirical evidence exists, a comprehensive theoretical framework is missing.

• Relationship Gap: Current research concentrates on specific relationships, overlooking other potential connections.

How to Cultivate a Mindset for Identifying Research Gaps?

Here are five steps:

• Define Your Field and Topic: Clearly identify your research domain and topic to target relevant gaps.

• Understand Existing Research: Engage in thorough reading, summarizing the existing research findings. "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants"(Sir Isaac Newton, 1676). Also, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see" (Winston Churchill).

• Identify Limitations in Current Research: After understanding existing research, pinpoint its limitations and categorize them based on the seven gap types mentioned earlier. "We cannot slove our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them" (Albert Einstein).

• Determine the Value of Your Identified Gap: Understand why a gap exists. Consider the contributions your research will make to academia and industry. Be consistent with your passion, because"Passion, though a bad regulator, is a power spring" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

• Formulate Your Research Question: After identifying the gap, revisit your topic, formulate your research question, and devise a detailed, actionable research plan.

Sample Sentences to Address Research Gaps:

When you identify limitations in current studies:

• "Previous research primarily investigates the …"

• "This problem has received limited attention in the literature."

• "Although attempts have been made to address this issue, it remains ..."

• "In general, prior work focuses on a subset of ..."

For unexplored areas:

• "Studies on ... are scarcely found in the main literature."

• "To our knowledge, no prior research has investigated ..."

For areas needing deeper investigation:

• "A comprehensive review of the literature reveals various gaps."

• "These areas require further studies on ..."

• "There remains significant work to be done in ..."

For areas needing a deeper understanding or improved methods:

• "There exists a significant issue demanding a superior approach."

• "There's a need for a cost-effective and reliable technique to ..."

• "Challenges with current methods highlight the need for ..."