So, you are going to conduct a research study. Well, that is good news, then. Have you found the research gap that you will be investigating and researching? Ohh, it is sad to know that you do not know how to identify research gaps. It is a serious issue, and it cannot be neglected. Identifying a research gap is extremely important in conducting good research. As you do not know how to identify them, so, in today’s article, we will explore effective ways to identify research gaps for your research study. However, before moving on towards the ways, let’s discuss what a research gap is.
What are the research gaps?
The research gaps are nothing but simply the research topics or areas that needs more research. Such gaps highlight that either they either are not researched or need improvement. The current knowledge about those topics is not sufficient to address the research problem or reach a conclusion. There is a difference between the research problem and the research gap. The research gaps give birth to research problems. Many students ask why it is important to identify a research gap. The points mentioned below are the answer to this:
- Such gaps allow the researcher to formulate an information-driven thesis
- The gaps help the researcher address problems that are outdated
- They are particularly useful for the advancement of a research topic
Hence, these are the points that highlight the importance of identifying research gaps. However, if you still have any doubts about their importance, you can visit any dissertation writing service. The helpers there will explain its importance pretty well.
Top effective ways to identify research gaps
After reading the information given above, you now have an idea of what these gaps are and why it is important to identify them. However, you still do not know how to find these gaps. Hence, it is now time to learn some effective ways to identify such gaps. Hence, a brief description of all the ways is as follows:
1. Review the current literature
One of the most used methods for the identification of research gaps is the method of literature review. In this method, you review all the literature published in your field. When doing this, make sure that you review the literature, which is current. Outdated literature is of no use to you. Hence, perform an extensive review and identify the areas which need improvement.
2. Focus on the introduction section
Another effective way to identify the research gaps is to focus on the introduction section. The introduction section is the section where the researcher defines the problem and mentions the research aims and objectives. It is also the section where you can find the gaps. Read the aims and objectives of the selected literature and see where they are lacking.
3. Seek help from seniors
The effective way no. 3 advises you to seek help from your seniors. Discuss the issue with your seniors and ask for their input. As they have also gone through such a phase during their academic life, they can guide you the best. They may generate ideas for you to research on. However, if you do not find any helpful seniors, contact dissertation writers UK.
4. Check the journal’s websites
Checking the websites of the most influential journals in your field is another effective to identify research gaps. Sometimes, you can find hot topics in your field by visiting their websites. The most influential journals often have a section named “key concepts.” In this section, you will find a list of the hot key concepts in your particular field.
5. Make use of digital tools
In this age of digital technology, nothing is hidden from technology. Nowadays, you can find information about everything on the internet by making use of the right tools. The same is the case with the identification of research gaps. There are some tools like PubCrawler, Feedly, and Google Scholar, which can help you a lot in the identification of gaps.
6. Talk to your supervisor
Lastly, the most effective way to identify the research gaps related to your field of study is to talk to your research supervisor. The research supervisors mostly have tons of research in their field and have published dozens of research papers. Therefore, they have the knowledge of what is trending and what is not. It is always beneficial for students to have their input.
Conclusion
In this guidepost, we have learnt that research gaps are potential lackings in a field that needs further research or improvement. To address such things, firstly, you need to identify them and then research them. The top 6 ways to identify such gaps in research are mentioned above. Hence, learn about them and practise all the ways discussed above.
