Young researchers, particularly the ones pursuing PhD in the areas of social sciences, often find it very hard to identify the gaps in research. The reasons of this difficulty can be many but I primarily seek advice from the experts as to what methodologies those researchers can be asked follow in order to identify any significant gaps that can ultimately help them contribute to the body of knowledge.
To identify a research gap in your field, you have to read a lot: read some review articles (these should give a good overview of all important studies in this field and also identify some gaps) but also other articles in your field (especially introduction and conclusion parts, as there, authors have to explain why this topic is important - e.g. who has stated that this topic has not been studied enough - and which topics other authors should study in the future). Also, sometimes it may be very helpful to talk to practitioners: if you manage to find out something that you cannot find in journal articles (or that goes 'against theory'), you've maybe found a good research gap.
To me one of the biggest research gap in social science is information technology affects on social life and communities.
To identify a research gap in your field, you have to read a lot: read some review articles (these should give a good overview of all important studies in this field and also identify some gaps) but also other articles in your field (especially introduction and conclusion parts, as there, authors have to explain why this topic is important - e.g. who has stated that this topic has not been studied enough - and which topics other authors should study in the future). Also, sometimes it may be very helpful to talk to practitioners: if you manage to find out something that you cannot find in journal articles (or that goes 'against theory'), you've maybe found a good research gap.
I agree with Tiia: you have to be an expert in order to be able to detect research gaps. That's why I do not think the way many PhDs are structured is good - they expect you to start your research the very first day - when you are not able to tell what you are going to do with it...
While conducting research, academy demand to identify gap. On citing my academy, it believes on doing so, prevents duplication of research. To find it, my academy suggests me to review research/es in similar research agenda. while doing so i experienced every research is complete and i don't find any gaps within themselves. I felt that i can extend my research to broader horizon rather than filling gaps.
secondly the knowledge created by research depends upon time and context. so the demand of new knowledge is created by time itself. The research done in past can be only a referent to create new knowledge.
Hi all. I would like to differentiate gap spotting and problematization as basic ways of initiating a research. Of course to use both of them one needs to be domain expert. however some shortcuts could be recommended to young researchers.
For gap spotting I would suggest starting with available review papers. these can be divided into:
1- citation analysis reports in which major contributors in terms of authors, journals and institutions are of main concern.
2- content analysis reports which mainly aim at above mentioned issues and how sub topics within each field is evolving.
3- systematic reviews which go further deep into changes in the discipline.
4- meta analysis reports which try to summarize previous research findings.
5- literature reviews and conceptual papers which cover a relatively long period of time.
For problematization techniques I would suggest reading an impressing paper written by Alvesson and Sandberg available at:
http://www.iot.ntnu.no/innovation/norsi-common-courses/Lincoln/Alvesson%20&%20Sandberg%20%282011%29AMR.pdf
Thank you for all your responses. The reference provided by #Jalal Moosavi is particularly useful.
Whoops! Thank you for pointing that out.
But the question still stands on the meaning of a "research gap"!
Well Jones, a research gap, in a certain area of literature, is defined as a topic or subject for which missing or insufficient existing body of knowledge limits the ability to reach a conclusion. It may also be considered as a problem for which existing body of knowledge does not provide a sufficient solution. Identification of an agreeable and significant research gap justifies the need for further research on which one can base his/her studies.
Oh! That is my speciality of sorts - blending social sciences with empirical science.
I have a case study here you may find useful as a model for integration of qualitative social science, and quantifiable hard science: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894669/
It describes in detail the need for the recent creation of the field of neuroanthropology, and purports that ethnography offers a means by which we can understand humanistic elements of scientific questions which empirical, quantifiably methodologies are not generally suited towards investigating.
Liked the answer by Jalal Moosavi, but when checking the paper by Alvesson and Sandberg, could not access it. Here is an open access link: https://wiki.aalto.fi/download/attachments/59573826/Alvesson-Sandberg2011-generating+research+questons.pdf
With some background in systems design, as well as philosophy of science (Kuhn's paradigm theory) I concur with Jalal: it is an impressive paper.
The typology of assumptions is important to keep in mind. Neglect for (the progressive articulation of) assumptions is a major driver for wrongly applying theories (epistemic constructs) to situations in a natural or social order (see proposed definitions at the page "all things and their becoming" - first link).
Using the insights from the paper by Alvesson and Sandberg, I can elaborate more on the topic of semiotic failures in the social order (see 2nd link) and their impact on socio-economic interactions (3rd link)
http://www.ens-dictionary.info/mr-item-overview
http://www.ens-dictionary.info/mr-source-2
http://www.interaction-dictionary.info/mr-item-overview
Hi Rauf,
I find the following methods / activities are useful for PhD students & young researchers etc to identify research gaps (assuming the researcher already embarking on his or her research journey):
1) Perform comprehensive literature review on the research topic by reading many & the latest academic articles, books & conference proceedings until saturation / "no stone unturned" - saturation is reached when nothing is new to you and what you are reading is repeated
2) Actively attending colloquiums (organized by universities), others' PhD research proposal defense (some universities open to PhD students) especially on topics related to your research - this will help you discover your research gaps, whether your research is noble research or "re-inventing the wheel" etc. Also finding this activity is useful preparing oneself for PhD proposal defense.
3) Try to attend research clinics as many as possible organized by the university - this can be useful 1 to 1 session for 1-2 hours with a professor assigned so that you can share with him or her on your research progress and solicit input from the professor on any research gap or you are on the right track.
4) If you are already performing data collection & data analysis on your PhD thesis, try to write some articles which are extracts / subsets of your thesis & publish as journal articles / conference proceedings. Also try to present your articles during conference proceedings - through writing and presenting, the researcher can learn much from article reviewers' critiques and audience's various angles of questioning on the research topic which can help identify any gap and possible solutions how to address those gaps. Don't be discouraged by the reviewers' critiques or rejection of the articles because you can learn from their critiques how to improve your PhD thesis which is the more important focus.
Regards,
Fung
Resp sir,
Probably, the simple way to find a gap is the young scholars have to understand their passion for some topic or aspect which they can start reading about and then identify that this topic has yet not been related to some other possible aspect. And then the supervisors do help.
Regards,
Palak.
read some review articles (these should give a good overview of all important studies in this field and also identify some gaps) but also other articles in your field (especially introduction and conclusion parts, as there, authors have to explain why this topic is important - e.g. who has stated that this topic has not been studied enough - and which topics other authors should study in the future). Also, sometimes it may be very helpful to talk to practitioners: if you manage to find out something that you cannot find in journal articles (or that goes 'against theory'), you've maybe found a good research gap.
and you can look at these
1) Perform comprehensive literature review on the research topic by reading many & the latest academic articles, books & conference proceedings until saturation / "no stone unturned" - saturation is reached when nothing is new to you and what you are reading is repeated
2) Actively attending colloquiums (organized by universities), others' PhD research proposal defense (some universities open to PhD students) especially on topics related to your research - this will help you discover your research gaps, whether your research is noble research or "re-inventing the wheel" etc. Also finding this activity is useful preparing oneself for PhD proposal defense.
3) Try to attend research clinics as many as possible organized by the university - this can be useful 1 to 1 session for 1-2 hours with a professor assigned so that you can share with him or her on your research progress and solicit input from the professor on any research gap or you are on the right track.
4) If you are already performing data collection & data analysis on your PhD thesis, try to write some articles which are extracts / subsets of your thesis & publish as journal articles / conference proceedings. Also try to present your articles during conference proceedings - through writing and presenting, the researcher can learn much from article reviewers' critiques and audience's various angles of questioning on the research topic which can help identify any gap and possible solutions how to address those gaps. Don't be discouraged by the reviewers' critiques or rejection of the articles because you can learn from their critiques how to improve your PhD thesis which is the more important focus.
What could be the methods for young researchers to identify research gaps? - ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_could_be_the_methods_for_young_researchers_to_identify_research_gaps [accessed Jul 10, 2016].
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_you_plan_your_personal_research_ahead
To identify a research gap is a challenging for young researcher. There are two approaches to identify research gap; first is to read a lot of papers, specially conclusion and recommendation section of the articles, which will help you to identify future works. Second approach, try to discuss technically sound peoples in your respective field through you may be find a gap of study.
I agree with the answers above. I still believe though that it largely depends on the researchers' personality, interests and motivation.
I mean, why would you work and research on something that is of no interest to you.
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