Identifying Research Gaps to Pursue Innovative Research
What is a Research Gap?
Today we are talking about the research gap: what is it, how to identify it, and how to
make use of it so that you can pursue innovative research. Now, how many of you
have ever felt you had discovered a new and exciting research question, only to find
that it had already been written about? I have experienced this more times than I can
count. Graduate studies come with pressure to add new knowledge to the field. We
can contribute to the progress and knowledge of humanity. To do this, we need to
first learn to identify research gaps in the existing literature.
A research gap is, simply, a topic or area for which missing or insufficient information
limits the ability to reach a conclusion for a question. It should not be confused with a
research question, however. For example, if we ask the research question of what
the healthiest diet for humans is, we would find many studies and possible answers
to this question. On the other hand, if we were to ask the research question of what
are the effects of antidepressants on pregnant women, we would not find much-
existing data. This is a research gap. When we identify a research gap, we identify a
direction for potentially new and exciting research.
How to Identify Research Gap?
Considering the volume of existing research, identifying research gaps can seem
overwhelming or even impossible. I don’t have time to read every paper published on
public health. Similarly, you guys don’t have time to read every paper. So how can
you identify a research gap?
There are different techniques in various disciplines, but we can reduce most of them
down to a few steps, which are:
Identify your key motivating issue/question
Identify key terms associated with this issue
Review the literature, searching for these key terms and identifying relevant
publications
Review the literature cited by the key publications which you located in the
above step
Identify issues not addressed by the literature relating to your critical
motivating issue
It is the last step which we all find the most challenging. It can be difficult to figure out
what an article is not saying. I like to keep a list of notes of biased or inconsistent
information. You could also track what authors write as “directions for future
research,” which often can point us towards the existing gaps.
Different Types of Research Gaps
Identifying research gaps is an essential step in conducting research, as it helps
researchers to refine their research questions and to focus their research efforts on
areas where there is a need for more knowledge or understanding.
1. Knowledge gaps
These are gaps in knowledge or understanding of a subject, where more research is
needed to fill the gaps. For example, there may be a lack of understanding of the
mechanisms behind a particular disease or how a specific technology works.
2. Conceptual gaps
These are gaps in the conceptual framework or theoretical understanding of a
subject. For example, there may be a need for more research to understand the
relationship between two concepts or to refine a theoretical framework.
3. Methodological gaps
These are gaps in the methods used to study a particular subject. For example,
there may be a need for more research to develop new research methods or to
refine existing methods to address specific research questions.
4. Data gaps
These are gaps in the data available on a particular subject. For example, there may
be a need for more research to collect data on a specific population or to develop
new measures to collect data on a particular construct.
5. Practical gaps
These are gaps in the application of research findings to practical situations. For
example, there may be a need for more research to understand how to implement
evidence-based practices in real-world settings or to identify barriers to implementing
such practices.
Examples of Research Gap
Limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of a disease:
Despite significant research on a particular disease, there may be a lack of
understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disease. For example, although
much research has been done on Alzheimer’s disease, the exact mechanisms that
lead to the disease are not yet fully understood.
Inconsistencies in the findings of previous research:
When previous research on a particular topic has inconsistent findings, there may be
a need for further research to clarify or resolve these inconsistencies. For example,
previous research on the effectiveness of a particular treatment for a medical
condition may have produced inconsistent findings, indicating a need for further
research to determine the true effectiveness of the treatment.
Limited research on emerging technologies:
As new technologies emerge, there may be limited research on their applications,
benefits, and potential drawbacks. For example, with the increasing use of artificial
intelligence in various industries, there is a need for further research on the ethical,
legal, and social implications of AI.
How to Deal with Literature Gap?
Once you have identified the literature gaps, it is critical to prioritize. You may find
many questions which remain to be answered in the literature. Often one question
must be answered before the next can be addressed. In prioritizing the gaps, you
have identified, you should consider your funding agency or stakeholders, the needs
of the field, and the relevance of your questions to what is currently being studied.
Also, consider your own resources and ability to conduct the research you’re
considering. Once you have done this, you can narrow your search down to an
appropriate question.
Tools to Help Your Search
There are thousands of new articles published every day, and staying up to date on
the literature can be overwhelming. You should take advantage of the technology
that is available. Some services include PubCrawler, Feedly, Google Scholar, and
PubMed updates. Stay up to date on social media forums where scholars share new
discoveries, such as Twitter. Reference managers such as Mendeley can help you
keep your references well-organized. I personally have had success using Google
Scholar and PubMed to stay current on new developments and track which gaps
remain in my personal areas of interest.
The most important thing I want to impress upon you today is that you will struggle to
choose a research topic that is innovative and exciting if you don’t know the existing
literature well. This is why identifying research gaps starts with an extensive and
thorough literature review. But give yourself some boundaries. You don’t need to
read every paper that has ever been written on a topic. You may find yourself
thinking you’re on the right track and then suddenly coming across a paper that you
had intended to write! It happens to everyone- it happens to me quite often. Don’t
give up- keep reading and you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Class dismissed!
What are the Different Types of Research Gaps in the Literature Review?
What is the research gap in literature review?
The purpose of a literature review is not only to examine the past available
literature but also identifying gaps in the literature.
According to Robinson et al., a research gap arises ‘when the capability of the
reviewer to draw conclusions from existing studies is limited.’ A research gap
forms a starting point for conducting further research.
While a research gap in literature review can be considered an ‘output’ of a
literature review, it can also be considered an ‘input’ that motivates further
research (Bloch, 2015).
Types of research gaps
Research gaps can also arise due to contradictory findings, changing trends and
unanswered questions. Classification of research gaps facilitates convenience and
can be classified as follows:-
1.Theoretical gap: A gap in existing theories and models in the field that has not
been effectively addressed is known as a theoretical gap or theory application void
gap.
It can be identified through a literature review, where the researcher examines the
existing literature on the research topic and identifies inconsistencies, limitations,
and gaps in the research.
Example: In economics and finance, a theoretical gap arises when there is a lack of
understanding of the factors that lead to financial bubbles, characterised by periods
of a stark increase in prices followed by a decline.
Theoretical gaps are important because they encourage the development of new
theories, methods, or ideas. Since the development of knowledge in any area is
guided by the ongoing challenge and reconsideration of the concepts, the process is
essential to its growth.
The development of theory may come to a stop if theoretical gaps are not taken into
consideration. For instance, in economics, proper legal frameworks cannot be
created if theoretical concerns about inflation and market behaviors are ignored.
These factors may encourage recurrent financial crises since regulators and
policymakers lack the conceptual knowledge which is necessary to predict or stop
them from occurring.
2.Empirical gap: The term “empirical gap” refers to the missing or undiscovered
components of a phenomenon that can be addressed through empirical research.
When the available data or empirical research is unable to answer specific research
questions, a gap results, known as an empirical gap or empirical void gap.
For instance, a study conducted by Goh and Lee (2020) on the impact of social
media on consumer behaviour found that there is a lack of research on the role of
social media influencers in shaping consumer behaviour for availing services and
purchasing products. This can be considered an empirical gap that can be
addressed through new empirical research.
An example of an empirical gap is understanding the environmental, social and
governance (ESG) factors and financial performance. Some studies reveal a positive
connection between strong ESG practices and financial performance, whereas
others find no or even a negative association.
For guidance on empirical research in economics dissertation, check out our blog on
How to build empirical modelling for economic dissertation research.
3.Methodological gap: A methodological gap, or method and research design gap,
is a gap in the research procedures and techniques employed in previous studies
that may affect the precision and reliability of the findings. This can impair the
accuracy of analysis, limit the scope of research, and hinder the development of
robust models or solutions in the field of finance.
Methodological gaps decide the validity and dependability of results. To guarantee
that study findings are reliable and useful, these gaps must be addressed. Research
findings may become unreliable if methodological shortcomings are ignored.
Sometimes, researchers conducting research in finance may lack the necessary
data, leading to methodological research gaps. Limited data hinders the ability to
conduct further research, leading to a methodological gap.
For example, poor risk assessment models in the financial industry might lead to bad
investment choices. Inaccurate forecasts of market trends and dangers have the
potential to cause large losses for investors and financial institutions, weakening
trust in financial systems.
4.Practical gap: Practical gap arises when there is a discrepancy between theory
and practice, where there is a necessity to conduct further research to address this
gap and improve the application of the theoretical findings into practice. A practical
gap is also called Practical-Knowledge Gap or Action-Knowledge-Conflict Gap.
These practical gaps arise from the difference between theoretical work conducted at
academic institutions and other establishments and field execution. Bridging these
gaps effectively ensures that research findings are used to address practical issues.
Some critical research works may only circulate among scholars with little practical
influence if their shortcomings are not addressed.
For example, underbanked communities will continue to struggle with poor financial
management due to high levels of financial vulnerability and consequent financial
marginalization if personal financial education is not directed towards them.
An example of a practical gap in finance is the access and utilisation of financial
education programs, workshops and online resources that can help individuals to
gain and apply knowledge to manage their finances effectively. This gap occurs
since financial literacy varies between populations.
5.Conceptual gap: Conceptual gaps occur when there is inconsistency or ambiguity
in a concept’s definition, interpretation, or application, resulting in confusion and
misunderstanding.
Conceptual gaps lead to inconsistent or unclear definitions and interpretations. When
defining key terms and concepts in a particular field of study often lead to
misunderstandings, they must be addressed in order for the research to be reliable
and accurate.
For instance, there is a conceptual gap in building frameworks that explicitly
recognise the crucial role of managing stakeholders and creating value for long-term
financial performance and sustainable growth.
Another example of a conceptual gap is the future applications of financial
instruments, where the definition of financial instruments was not clear till Brown
gave one for understanding.
6.Knowledge gap: A knowledge gap is the difference between what is known and
what needs to be known about a specific topic. A knowledge gap can occur for
various reasons, including insufficient or incomplete information, contradictory
information, limited research, and outdated information.
A knowledge gap prevents the field from progressing. Solving these gaps
encourages greater research and the development of new ideas and applications.
To identify a knowledge gap, researchers must extensively examine the available
literature and identify areas where additional study is required. They can also
conduct surveys or interviews to examine the general public’s or specialists’
knowledge and awareness of a specific problem. Addressing a knowledge gap leads
to advancing knowledge in a particular field and gives rise to new concepts, theories
or practices.
An example of a knowledge gap is the effect of emerging financial technologies on
traditional banking systems. There is a greater risk for cybersecurity, like identity
theft, data breaches and cyber threats, and researchers can study the risks of
financial technologies and offer management strategies for customers and financial
institutions (Kavuri, 2019).
Conclusion
Research gaps occurs when a researcher is unable to draw conclusions from
existing literature. Identifying gaps in literature is crucial for a literature review. There
are various types of research gaps that include theoretical gas, empirical gaps,
methodological gaps, practical gaps, conceptual gaps and knowledge gaps.
Addressing these types of research gaps can significantly add to the existing body of
knowledge and lead to knowledge advancement in a given field.
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