Every board asks the same question: “What is new in your study?” The answer is your research gap. Here are six common types and how to spot them.
1. Population gap
A relationship is well studied among, say, bank employees, but not among teachers, nurses or university students.
2. Context (geographical) gap
Most studies come from Western countries or big cities. Testing the same model in Pakistan, South Punjab or rural areas can reveal different results because culture and conditions differ.
3. Variable gap
X → Y is known, but the mediator (why it happens) or moderator (when it is stronger or weaker) has not been tested.
4. Methodological gap
Previous work used only surveys; you use mixed methods, an experiment, or a longitudinal design. Or previous studies had small samples.
5. Time gap
Older findings may not hold after major changes — for example, after the shift to online learning or new technologies.
6. Contradiction gap
Studies disagree: some find a positive effect, others none. Your study can help clarify why.
Where to look
- The limitations and future research sections of recent papers — authors often state the gap for you.
- Recent review articles and meta-analyses.
- Your literature matrix: which cells are empty?
How to write it
“Although the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance has been widely examined in the banking sector (Ali, 2020; Khan, 2022), limited research has explored this relationship among public-sector nurses in Pakistan, and the mediating role of work engagement remains largely untested in this context. The present study addresses this gap.”
A good gap is specific, supported by citations and directly connected to your objectives.
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