One of the most important parts of a strong dissertation is identifying a research gap. But many students struggle to understand what a research gap actually looks like.
A research gap is not simply a topic that has not been studied before. It is a specific area where existing research is limited, incomplete, inconsistent, outdated or missing an important perspective.
Finding a clear gap helps you explain why your dissertation is worth conducting.
What Makes a Good Research Gap?
A good research gap should be:
- Specific rather than overly broad
- Supported by existing academic literature
- Relevant to your research question
- Possible to investigate within your available time and resources
- Clear enough to explain what your research will add
Before choosing your research gap, you should understand what has already been studied. Our guide on how to choose the perfect dissertation topic explains why reviewing existing literature and considering the scope of your research are important when developing a dissertation topic.
Here are seven common examples of research gaps.
1. Population Gap
Existing research may focus heavily on one population while overlooking another.
Example:
Most studies examine how social media affects the academic performance of university students generally, but limited research focuses specifically on international postgraduate students studying in the UK.
A dissertation could investigate whether social media use has a different academic impact on this specific group.
2. Geographical Gap
Research findings from one country or region may not apply directly to another.
Example:
Several studies have examined remote working and employee productivity in the United States, but there is limited research examining remote working among small businesses in the UK.
The geographical context becomes the focus of the research gap.
3. Methodological Gap
Researchers may have studied a topic using one method while another method remains underused.
Example:
Previous research into student experiences of online learning may rely mainly on quantitative surveys. A dissertation could address the gap by using in-depth interviews to explore students' experiences in greater detail.
This type of gap can be particularly useful when you want to investigate the reasons behind patterns identified in previous research.
4. Theoretical Gap
A topic may have been studied using established theories, but another theoretical perspective may not have been sufficiently explored.
Example:
Research into employee motivation may commonly use Maslow's hierarchy of needs, while fewer studies examine the same issue through Self-Determination Theory.
Your dissertation could investigate whether the alternative theoretical framework provides a different explanation.
5. Temporal Gap
Research can become outdated as technology, policies, behaviours or social conditions change.
Example:
Studies conducted before the widespread adoption of generative AI may have examined how university students use technology for academic work. A newer dissertation could investigate how students' academic research practices have changed following the adoption of generative AI tools.
The important point is to establish that the existing evidence genuinely needs updating rather than simply choosing a newer date.
6. Contradictory Findings Gap
Sometimes existing studies reach different conclusions.
Example:
Some studies suggest that social media use negatively affects student concentration, while others find little or no significant relationship.
A dissertation could investigate why these findings differ by examining factors such as usage patterns, student age or the type of social media platform involved.
7. Practical Gap
Research may identify a problem but provide limited evidence about how organisations or professionals can address it.
Example:
Research may show that employees experience stress when working remotely, but there may be limited evidence about which workplace interventions are most effective for reducing remote-working stress among UK employees.
This type of gap connects an academic problem with a practical issue.
How Do You Prove That Your Research Gap Exists?
You cannot simply claim that “no research exists” because you have not found any. You need to review relevant academic literature and demonstrate what previous researchers have already established.
Look for recurring limitations, under-researched groups, conflicting findings, methodological weaknesses and areas where authors recommend further research.
Our Literature Review Writing service focuses on critical synthesis and research gap identification, which can be particularly useful when you are struggling to turn a broad topic into a focused research problem.
You should also assess the reliability and relevance of the sources you use. SchoolUs' guide on checking whether dissertation research is reliable provides useful guidance on evaluating academic sources.
Final Takeaway
A good research gap does not need to involve a completely untouched subject. It needs to identify something that existing research has not adequately explained, explored or resolved.
Whether your gap involves a particular population, location, methodology, theory, time period, contradictory findings or practical problem, the key is to connect it directly to your research question and demonstrate why investigating it matters.
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