How To Find A Research Gap (Quickly!): Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + Free Worksheet

Summary

In this video, Derek from Grad Coach outlines a methodical approach to swiftly identifying research gaps without specialized tools. He emphasizes defining a broad area of interest, consulting with academic institutions, and leveraging Google Scholar for recent literature. The focus is on skimming articles for abstracts, introductions, and discussions to pinpoint 'future research' sections, which often highlight potential gaps. Derek suggests a systematic evaluation of these gaps and offers resources on the Grad Coach blog for further guidance.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The video outlines a method for quickly identifying research gaps without special tools or software.
• 🎓 Aimed at researchers, particularly those working on dissertations or theses, the video provides practical research guidance.
• 🌐 The Grad Coach channel offers a variety of research-related resources, including templates and tools for research projects.
• 🔑 A research gap is defined as an area lacking solid, agreed-upon research on a specific topic, issue, or phenomenon.
• 📈 The 'friend hunting' strategy is introduced as a way to rapidly identify potential research gaps.
• 📝 The process begins by defining a broad area of interest and ensuring it aligns with the university's requirements.
• 🔎 Utilizing Google Scholar, researchers are advised to search with relevant keywords and filter results to recent publications.
• 📑 It's recommended to focus on the abstract, introduction, and discussion/conclusion sections of articles for a quick overview.
• 🔑 The 'FRIN' section (Future Research is Needed) within articles is highlighted as a key area to identify research opportunities.
• 🔄 After identifying potential gaps, the video suggests revisiting Google Scholar to ensure the gaps haven't been recently filled.
• 📝 A systematic evaluation of potential research gaps is advised, with a provided worksheet on the Grad Coach blog for this purpose.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the Grad Coach channel?

The primary focus of the Grad Coach channel is to cover all things research related to help individuals approach their research projects, such as dissertations, theses, or research articles, with competence and confidence.

What resources are available on the Grad Coach blog for research proposal writing?

The Grad Coach blog offers a collection of templates and tools to help individuals get started on their research journey, including resources for writing research proposals for dissertations or theses.

What is a research gap in the context of this video?

A research gap is defined as any space where there is currently a lack of solid, agreed-upon research regarding a specific topic, issue, or phenomenon, indicating an opportunity for new research to be conducted.

Why is it important to find a research gap when starting a research project?

Finding a research gap is important because it identifies areas where established knowledge is lacking, thus providing opportunities for new research and ensuring that the research conducted is original and contributes to the field.

What is the 'friend hunting' strategy mentioned in the video?

The 'friend hunting' strategy is a process focused on quickly identifying potential research gaps by reviewing recent academic literature and looking for sections that suggest opportunities for further research, often labeled as 'future research' or 'further research needed'.

Why is it recommended to start with a broad area of interest when searching for a research gap?

Starting with a broad area of interest allows for a wider exploration of potential research topics and gaps without being confined to a specific topic. It also helps in generating a variety of keyword combinations for literature searches.

How does Google Scholar play a role in finding research gaps as described in the video?

Google Scholar is used as a starting point to source academic literature on a broad area of interest. It allows for searching with relevant keywords and filtering results to find recent articles that may indicate research gaps.

What are the three specific sections of an academic article that should be focused on when looking for a research gap?

The three specific sections to focus on when looking for a research gap are the abstract, the introduction, and the discussion or conclusion section. These sections provide insights into the study's objectives, context, and findings.

What does the acronym 'FRIN' stand for in the context of this video?

The acronym 'FRIN' stands for 'Further Research is Needed' and refers to sections within academic articles that suggest opportunities for future research, indicating potential research gaps.

How can one ensure that a potential research gap they've identified is still valid and not already filled by more recent studies?

To ensure a potential research gap is still valid, one should return to Google Scholar and conduct further searches using the same or refined keywords to check for any newer publications that might have addressed the gap.

What additional service does Grad Coach offer for individuals needing more personalized guidance in their research journey?

Grad Coach offers a one-on-one private coaching service where they help individuals step by step through the research process, ensuring the development of high-quality work.