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Research Gap – Types, Examples and How to Identify

May 5, 2023by Muhammad Hassan

Table of Contents

Research Gap

How to Identify Research Gap

Types of Research Gap

Theoretical Gap

Empirical Gap

Methodological Gap

Practical Gap

Knowledge Gap

Examples of Research Gap

How to Write Research Gap

Importance of Research Gap

Applications of Research Gap

Advantages of Research Gap

Disadvantages of Research Gap

Research Gap

Research Gap

Definition:
Research gap refers to an area or topic within a field of study that has not yet been extensively
researched or is yet to be explored. It is a question, problem or issue that has not been addressed or
resolved by previous research.

How to Identify Research Gap

Identifying a research gap is an essential step in conducting research that adds value and contributes to
the existing body of knowledge. Research gap requires critical thinking, creativity, and a thorough
understanding of the existing literature. It is an iterative process that may require revisiting and refining
your research questions and ideas multiple times.

Here are some steps that can help you identify a research gap:

Review existing literature: Conduct a thorough review of the existing literature in your research area.
This will help you identify what has already been studied and what gaps still exist.

Identify a research problem: Identify a specific research problem or question that you want to address.

Analyze existing research: Analyze the existing research related to your research problem. This will help
you identify areas that have not been studied, inconsistencies in the findings, or limitations of the
previous research.

Brainstorm potential research ideas: Based on your analysis, brainstorm potential research ideas that
address the identified gaps.

Consult with experts: Consult with experts in your research area to get their opinions on potential
research ideas and to identify any additional gaps that you may have missed.

Refine research questions: Refine your research questions and hypotheses based on the identified gaps
and potential research ideas.

Develop a research proposal: Develop a research proposal that outlines your research questions,
objectives, and methods to address the identified research gap.

Types of Research Gap

There are different types of research gaps that can be identified, and each type is associated with a
specific situation or problem. Here are the main types of research gaps and their explanations:
Theoretical Gap

This type of research gap refers to a lack of theoretical understanding or knowledge in a particular area.
It can occur when there is a discrepancy between existing theories and empirical evidence or when
there is no theory that can explain a particular phenomenon. Identifying theoretical gaps can lead to the
development of new theories or the refinement of existing ones.

Empirical Gap

An empirical gap occurs when there is a lack of empirical evidence or data in a particular area. It can
happen when there is a lack of research on a specific topic or when existing research is inadequate or
inconclusive. Identifying empirical gaps can lead to the development of new research studies to collect
data or the refinement of existing research methods to improve the quality of data collected.

Methodological Gap

This type of research gap refers to a lack of appropriate research methods or techniques to answer a
research question. It can occur when existing methods are inadequate, outdated, or inappropriate for
the research question. Identifying methodological gaps can lead to the development of new research
methods or the modification of existing ones to better address the research question.

Practical Gap

A practical gap occurs when there is a lack of practical applications or implementation of research
findings. It can occur when research findings are not implemented due to financial, political, or social
constraints. Identifying practical gaps can lead to the development of strategies for the effective
implementation of research findings in practice.

Knowledge Gap

This type of research gap occurs when there is a lack of knowledge or information on a particular topic.
It can happen when a new area of research is emerging, or when research is conducted in a different
context or population. Identifying knowledge gaps can lead to the development of new research studies
or the extension of existing research to fill the gap.

Examples of Research Gap

Here are some examples of research gaps that researchers might identify:

Theoretical Gap Example: In the field of psychology, there might be a theoretical gap related to the lack
of understanding of the relationship between social media use and mental health. Although there is
existing research on the topic, there might be a lack of consensus on the mechanisms that link social
media use to mental health outcomes.

Empirical Gap Example: In the field of environmental science, there might be an empirical gap related to
the lack of data on the long-term effects of climate change on biodiversity in specific regions. Although
there might be some studies on the topic, there might be a lack of data on the long-term effects of
climate change on specific species or ecosystems.

Methodological Gap Example: In the field of education, there might be a methodological gap related to
the lack of appropriate research methods to assess the impact of online learning on student outcomes.
Although there might be some studies on the topic, existing research methods might not be appropriate
to assess the complex relationships between online learning and student outcomes.

Practical Gap Example: In the field of healthcare, there might be a practical gap related to the lack of
effective strategies to implement evidence-based practices in clinical settings. Although there might be
existing research on the effectiveness of certain practices, they might not be implemented in practice
due to various barriers, such as financial constraints or lack of resources.

Knowledge Gap Example: In the field of anthropology, there might be a knowledge gap related to the
lack of understanding of the cultural practices of indigenous communities in certain regions. Although
there might be some research on the topic, there might be a lack of knowledge about specific cultural
practices or beliefs that are unique to those communities.

Examples of Research Gap In Literature Review, Thesis, and Research Paper might be:

Literature review: A literature review on the topic of machine learning and healthcare might identify a
research gap in the lack of studies that investigate the use of machine learning for early detection of
rare diseases.

Thesis: A thesis on the topic of cybersecurity might identify a research gap in the lack of studies that
investigate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in detecting and preventing cyber attacks.

Research paper: A research paper on the topic of natural language processing might identify a research
gap in the lack of studies that investigate the use of natural language processing techniques for
sentiment analysis in non-English languages.

How to Write Research Gap

By following these steps, you can effectively write about research gaps in your paper and clearly
articulate the contribution that your study will make to the existing body of knowledge.

Here are some steps to follow when writing about research gaps in your paper:

Identify the research question: Before writing about research gaps, you need to identify your research
question or problem. This will help you to understand the scope of your research and identify areas
where additional research is needed.

Review the literature: Conduct a thorough review of the literature related to your research question.
This will help you to identify the current state of knowledge in the field and the gaps that exist.

Identify the research gap: Based on your review of the literature, identify the specific research gap that
your study will address. This could be a theoretical, empirical, methodological, practical, or knowledge
gap.

Provide evidence: Provide evidence to support your claim that the research gap exists. This could
include a summary of the existing literature, a discussion of the limitations of previous studies, or an
analysis of the current state of knowledge in the field.

Explain the importance: Explain why it is important to fill the research gap. This could include a
discussion of the potential implications of filling the gap, the significance of the research for the field, or
the potential benefits to society.

State your research objectives: State your research objectives, which should be aligned with the
research gap you have identified. This will help you to clearly articulate the purpose of your study and
how it will address the research gap.

Importance of Research Gap

The importance of research gaps can be summarized as follows:

Advancing knowledge: Identifying research gaps is crucial for advancing knowledge in a particular field.
By identifying areas where additional research is needed, researchers can fill gaps in the existing body of
knowledge and contribute to the development of new theories and practices.

Guiding research: Research gaps can guide researchers in designing studies that fill those gaps. By
identifying research gaps, researchers can develop research questions and objectives that are aligned
with the needs of the field and contribute to the development of new knowledge.
Enhancing research quality: By identifying research gaps, researchers can avoid duplicating previous
research and instead focus on developing innovative research that fills gaps in the existing body of
knowledge. This can lead to more impactful research and higher-quality research outputs.

Informing policy and practice: Research gaps can inform policy and practice by highlighting areas where
additional research is needed to inform decision-making. By filling research gaps, researchers can
provide evidence-based recommendations that have the potential to improve policy and practice in a
particular field.

Applications of Research Gap

Here are some potential applications of research gap:

Informing research priorities: Research gaps can help guide research funding agencies and researchers
to prioritize research areas that require more attention and resources.

Identifying practical implications: Identifying gaps in knowledge can help identify practical applications
of research that are still unexplored or underdeveloped.

Stimulating innovation: Research gaps can encourage innovation and the development of new
approaches or methodologies to address unexplored areas.

Improving policy-making: Research gaps can inform policy-making decisions by highlighting areas where
more research is needed to make informed policy decisions.

Enhancing academic discourse: Research gaps can lead to new and constructive debates and discussions
within academic communities, leading to more robust and comprehensive research.

Advantages of Research Gap

Here are some of the advantages of research gap:

Identifies new research opportunities: Identifying research gaps can help researchers identify areas that
require further exploration, which can lead to new research opportunities.

Improves the quality of research: By identifying gaps in current research, researchers can focus their
efforts on addressing unanswered questions, which can improve the overall quality of research.

Enhances the relevance of research: Research that addresses existing gaps can have significant
implications for the development of theories, policies, and practices, and can therefore increase the
relevance and impact of research.
Helps avoid duplication of effort: Identifying existing research can help researchers avoid duplicating
efforts, saving time and resources.

Helps to refine research questions: Research gaps can help researchers refine their research questions,
making them more focused and relevant to the needs of the field.

Promotes collaboration: By identifying areas of research that require further investigation, researchers
can collaborate with others to conduct research that addresses these gaps, which can lead to more
comprehensive and impactful research outcomes.

Disadvantages of Research Gap

While research gaps can be advantageous, there are also some potential disadvantages that should be
considered:

Difficulty in identifying gaps: Identifying gaps in existing research can be challenging, particularly in fields
where there is a large volume of research or where research findings are scattered across different
disciplines.

Lack of funding: Addressing research gaps may require significant resources, and researchers may
struggle to secure funding for their work if it is perceived as too risky or uncertain.

Time-consuming: Conducting research to address gaps can be time-consuming, particularly if the

research involves collecting new data or developing new methods.

Risk of oversimplification: Addressing research gaps may require researchers to simplify complex
problems, which can lead to oversimplification and a failure to capture the complexity of the issues.

Bias: Identifying research gaps can be influenced by researchers’ personal biases or perspectives, which
can lead to a skewed understanding of the field.

Potential for disagreement: Identifying research gaps can be subjective, and different researchers may
have different views on what constitutes a gap in the field, leading to disagreements and debate.

Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts (BA) – Subjects, Requirements and Jobs Qualitative Research
MethodsQualitative Research Methods

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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