Category Archives: Research

How to derive research gap in doctoral study

Have you heard of these research gaps: “Practical Research Gap” and “Knowledge Application Research Gap”? Learn about it in less than 5 minutes

Research shows that about 3.54% of research papers get rejected just because of not properly identifying and resolving the research gap. In this blog, we will cover two of the most underrated research gaps such as the Practical Research Gap and the Knowledge Application Research Gap. Apart from knowing what those are, we will also know why we need to give importance to these research gaps and how to implement these in our research so that we can find the gaps and make the research better. So, let’s begin.

But before that, let us know the answers to some basic questions which will help us to understand this blog easier. The first one is how to write a research gap. For this, you have to review the existing literature, identify the research question, determine the scope of the research gap, explain the significance of the research gap and provide evidence to support it.

Now, the second question comes which is how to identify the research gap. This also incorporates conducting a thorough literature review, looking for inconsistencies or contradictions in the literature, identifying limitations in previous research, looking for unanswered research questions and considering new developments in the field.

Finally, as we all know there are several types of research gap in research such as practical research and knowledge application research gap. But only these two? What about theoretical, empirical, methodological and conceptual research gaps? Why haven’t I covered this in this blog? This you will know only after reading this blog. So, keep on reading.

A practical research gap refers to a problem or issue that exists in a particular field of study that needs to be addressed through research. This gap could be a lack of understanding of a particular phenomenon, a need for more empirical data to support a theoretical framework or a need for the development of new techniques or tools to solve a problem.

Identifying a practical research gap is an essential step in conducting research as it helps researchers to focus their efforts and resources on areas that are most in need of attention. It also helps to ensure that the research conducted is relevant and useful to practitioners and policymakers in the field.

I hope you have gathered an idea about the practical research gap but you may have a question in your mind: why use a practical research gap in your research? So, let us know the answer.

Using a practical research gap in your research helps to ensure that your work is relevant and meaningful to the field you are studying. By identifying a gap in the existing knowledge or practice, you can focus your research efforts on addressing this gap and contributing to the advancement of the field.

How can you identify the relevance of your research with the help of the Practical Research Gap? By identifying a practical research gap, you can ensure that your research is relevant to the needs of practitioners and policymakers in the field. You can identify the relevance by first defining the practical problem, conducting a literature review, identifying the research gap and determining the significance. Another benefit of using a practical research gap is it is helpful to solve real-world problems and improve outcomes for individuals or organizations in the field. So, it is two targets with one stone.

Filling a practical research gap often involves developing new methods, tools, or approaches, which can lead to innovation and new discoveries in the field. The new methods include data collection, analysis, ethical consideration, reproducibility, multidisciplinary approaches and dissemination and communication. The new approaches which can be developed using the practical research gap include participatory, mixed-methods, action, interdisciplinary, community-based and longitudinal research.

Can it influence future research and practice? By filling a practical research gap, you can make a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the field, and potentially influence future research and practice.

Nonetheless, there remains an issue. The problem is you may want to use the practical research gap in your research but you may not get the full benefit of using it. The reason is that there are several factors to be considered. So, let us know the factors to consider while using a practical research gap.
When using a practical research gap in your research.

There are several key factors that you should consider:

How to write a research gap

Feasibility: The research question should be feasible to answer within the scope of the study and the available resources.

Clarity: The research question should be clearly defined and specific to ensure that the study stays focused and is able to provide clear and meaningful results.

Methodology: The methodology used to answer the research question should be appropriate and rigorous, using reliable and valid data sources and analytical methods.

Ethics: The study should be conducted in an ethical manner, taking into account issues such as confidentiality, informed consent, and the potential impact of the research on participants and the broader community.

Impact: The research should have a clear impact on the field, providing new insights, tools, or approaches that can be used by practitioners and policymakers to address the practical research gap.
Now that we have gathered most of the knowledge about the practical research gap, let us know how to use the practical research gap in our PhD research.

To conduct a successful PhD research, it is crucial to identify the field of study and focus on a specific area of knowledge. A thorough review of existing literature is then necessary to identify gaps in knowledge, areas of disagreement, or practical issues that have not yet been addressed by previous research.

Based on the review of the literature, research questions should be formulated that address practical research gaps in the field of study. These questions must be specific, clear, and feasible to answer within the scope of the PhD research. A research plan should then be developed, outlining the methodology to be used to answer the research questions. The plan should be rigorous, taking into account issues such as sample size, data collection methods, and analytical techniques.

In conducting research using the methodology outlined in the research plan, data should be collected and analyzed to answer the research questions. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the practical research gap identified in the field of study. The implications of the findings for practitioners and policymakers should be discussed, and areas for further research should be identified.

Finally, the dissertation should be written, incorporating the research questions, research plan, and findings into a cohesive narrative that addresses the practical research gap identified in the field of study. By identifying and resolving research gaps, the research can be made perfect.

Still, there’s something left to discuss which is the problems associated with the practical research gap. So, let us know then.

The practical research gap refers to the gap between academic research and its application in real-world settings.

Some of the problems associated with this gap include:

How to derive research gap in doctoral study

Lack of relevance: Often, academic research focuses on topics that may not be relevant to the practical needs of industry or society. As a result, the research findings may not be applicable in real-world settings.

Limited accessibility: Academic research is often published in academic journals or presented at conferences, which may not be easily accessible to practitioners or the general public. This can limit the dissemination of research findings and prevent their application in real-world settings.

Time lag: The time it takes for academic research to be published and disseminated can create a time lag between when the research is conducted and when it can be applied in practical settings. This lag can lead to missed opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Lack of collaboration: Collaboration between researchers and practitioners can help bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications. However, there is often a need for more cooperation between these groups, which can limit the practical application of research findings.

Limited resources: Practical research often requires resources such as funding, equipment, and access to data. These resources may not be available to practitioners, limiting their ability to apply research findings in real-world settings.

Resistance to change: Even when research findings are relevant and accessible, there may be resistance to change among practitioners or industry leaders. This can limit the adoption of new practices or technologies based on research findings.

If you want to know anything else about the practical research gap, then you can let us know in the comments. So, let’s jump into the “knowledge application research gap”.

The knowledge application research gap refers to the difference or discrepancy between what is known through research and what is being applied in practice. It occurs when there is a failure to transfer or apply research findings to real-world situations or when research is not conducted on the specific practical problems that need to be addressed.

This gap can occur for several reasons, including lack of communication between researchers and practitioners, limited resources for implementation, insufficient training and support for practitioners, and differences in the context or setting in which research is conducted versus where it is applied.
Now, like the previous research gap, let us know why the knowledge application research gap portrays an essential role while conducting research.

How does the knowledge application research gap improve the effectiveness of interventions? By addressing the knowledge application research gap, researchers can identify the practical barriers and challenges that prevent the translation of research findings into effective interventions. This can help improve the implementation of interventions and lead to better outcomes for individuals and communities.

Researchers can identify areas where additional research is needed to address practical problems and improve the application of research findings in practice by understanding the knowledge application research gap. They can do it by reviewing the literature, consulting experts and  prioritizing the research needs.

Researchers can work collaboratively with practitioners to identify practical solutions and promote the implementation of evidence-based practices through the knowledge application research gap. However, this can be done by identifying the facilitators and barriers, engaging stakeholders, developing and testing interventions, using the framework of implementation science and disseminating the findings.

By focusing on the knowledge application research gap, researchers can ensure that their work has practical applications and can be used to improve people’s lives. This can help increase the impact and relevance of research, and promote the use of research for positive social change. It can be done with the help of the advancement of technology and innovation.

Researchers can identify practical solutions that can help address social inequalities and promote social justice with the help of the knowledge application research gap. This can be done by implementing evidence-based interventions, conducting research on the root causes of social inequalities, fostering community engagement, addressing implicit bias and discrimination, advocating for change and disseminating findings and promoting policy change.

Unlike the practical research gap. There are various factors to consider while using the knowledge application research gap in your PhD research. But what are those?

When using the knowledge application research gap in your PhD research, there are several factors to consider.

Here are some of the key factors:

Research question: Your research question should be focused on a practical problem or issue that has not been adequately addressed by existing research. You should consider how your research can contribute to bridging the knowledge application research gap in your chosen area.

Literature review: A thorough literature review is essential to identify the existing research on your topic and to identify gaps in the literature that your research can address. You should consider how your research can build upon existing knowledge and contribute to the knowledge application research gap.

Research design: Your research design should be tailored to address the research question and to fill the knowledge application research gap. You should consider using implementation science frameworks to guide your research design and to ensure that your research is relevant to the practical problem you are addressing.

Data collection and analysis: Your data collection and analysis methods should be appropriate for your research question and research design. You should consider how your data can be analyzed and reported in a way that is useful for practitioners and policymakers.

Stakeholder engagement: Stakeholder engagement is essential to ensure that your research is relevant to the practical problem you are addressing. You should consider how to engage with stakeholders, such as healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients, to ensure that your research is aligned with their needs and priorities.

Dissemination: Dissemination of your research findings is essential to promote the application of your research in practice. You should consider how to disseminate your findings to academic and non-academic audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and patients.

Now, again we have come to the question of how to use the knowledge application research gap in your research.

Using the knowledge application research gap in your research involves identifying a practical problem or issue that has not been adequately addressed by existing research and developing a research plan that aims to fill the gap by generating evidence that can be applied in practice.

You need to first Identify a practical problem or issue that is important to stakeholders and that has not been adequately addressed by existing research. This could be a gap in knowledge, a need for improved interventions, or a need for more effective implementation strategies.

You also have to conduct a comprehensive literature review to identify existing research on the problem or issue you have identified. This will help you to understand what is already known about the problem, identify gaps in the literature, and develop a research question that addresses the knowledge application research gap.

It is very important to develop a research question that is focused on addressing the knowledge application research gap you have identified. The research question should be specific, feasible, and relevant to stakeholders.

Choose a research design that is appropriate for your research question and that can generate evidence that is applicable in practice. Consider using implementation science frameworks to guide your research design and ensure that your research is relevant to the practical problem you are addressing.

Engaging stakeholders is one of the most crucial aspects of all of them. Engage stakeholders throughout the research process to ensure that your research is aligned with their needs and priorities. Stakeholder engagement can help to ensure that your research is relevant, practical, and applicable in practice.

Finally, disseminate your research findings to academic and non-academic audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and patients. Dissemination of findings is essential to promote the application of your research in practice and to ensure that your research has an impact on the problem or issue you have identified.

So, which are the problems associated with the knowledge application research gap.

There are several problems associated with the knowledge application research gap, including:

Lack of alignment between research and practice: One of the main problems with the knowledge application research gap is that there is often a lack of alignment between research and practice. Researchers may focus on questions that are not relevant to the practical needs of stakeholders or may conduct research that is not feasible or applicable in practice.

Limited generalizability of research findings: Another problem with the knowledge application research gap is that research findings may not be generalizable to different settings or populations. This can limit the applicability of research findings in practice and make it difficult for stakeholders to use research evidence to inform decision-making.

Insufficient engagement with stakeholders: Engagement with stakeholders, such as patients, practitioners, and policymakers, is critical for ensuring that research is relevant to their needs and priorities. However, there is often insufficient engagement with stakeholders in the research process, which can limit the applicability and impact of research findings.

Limited dissemination of research findings: Even when research findings are relevant and applicable to practice, there may be limited dissemination of the findings to stakeholders. This can limit the impact of research and make it difficult for stakeholders to use research evidence to inform decision-making.

Funding and resource constraints: Funding and resource constraints can limit the scope and impact of research, and may make it difficult for researchers to address the practical problems and issues that are most relevant to stakeholders.

Limited capacity for implementation: Even when research generates evidence-based interventions or strategies, there may be limited capacity for implementation in practice due to factors such as lack of resources, competing priorities, and organizational barriers.

Now, the final question for which you have been eagerly waiting is how to know what gap to identify and resolve for my research. Practical Research Gap or Knowledge Application Research Gap? Well, the answer is right below.

To identify the gap in your research, you need to consider the specific problem or issue you are trying to address and the practical implications of your research. Both the practical research gap and the knowledge application research gap can be used to identify research gaps, but they have different focuses and implications.

The practical research gap refers to the gap between what is known and what needs to be known to solve a practical problem or issue. This type of gap focuses on identifying gaps in knowledge or understanding related to a practical issue or problem. It is often used to identify research questions that are relevant to stakeholders and have the potential to improve practice.

On the other hand, the knowledge application research gap refers to the gap between what is known and what is implemented in practice. This type of gap focuses on identifying barriers to the implementation of evidence-based interventions or strategies in practice. It is often used to identify research questions that aim to improve the translation of research evidence into practice.

To determine which type of gap to focus on for your research, you need to consider the specific problem or issue you are trying to address and the practical implications of your research. If your research aims to generate new knowledge or understanding related to a practical problem or issue, then the practical research gap may be more relevant. If your research aims to improve the implementation of evidence-based interventions or strategies, then the knowledge application research gap may be more relevant.

Ultimately, the most important consideration is to ensure that your research is relevant to stakeholders, addresses a practical problem or issue, and has the potential to improve practice.

Apart from that, you may also have this question in your mind which is how to derive research gap in PhD research? The answer can be reviewing the literature, identifying the key themes, analysing the literature, establishing the research significance and refining the research questions.

The above answer can also help you to know how to derive research gap in doctoral study? So, with this, I am finishing this blog hoping that you have liked this one.

Have any questions in your mind? Then comment below because we are eagerly waiting for your comment. You can also comment on other questions which you have in your mind.

Which is the best journal to publish your research paper?

It is a very important and crucial decision, to choose the right journal for your research paper. To begin with, you must pick a journal on the basis of, how nicely your research fits into its broader theme. This isn’t a very difficult task because as a researcher, after having read many papers and explored literature, you will have a fairly good idea about which journal would be the most appropriate and willing to punish your research.
Some fundamental information about the journal can be explored from its website itself and you can be sure that approaching the journal or pursuing it for publication won’t be a waste of effort. However, if you have a couple of journals to shortlist from, the. below mentioned criterion can be of good help:

Positioning in your field of study: The top tier in your field of study may have more than one journal. These would of course be the best known ones and most sought after by scholars in all disciplines. Keeping an eye on the top tier journals is a good idea and you can get more information about them by enquiring from the seasoned faculty in your university who belong to your discipline. Few universities do the task easier for the scholars by already having a ranked list of journals ready for them.

Rate of Acceptance: Journals that have a low rate of acceptance are ideally more competitive and should be targeted for publication of worthy research. However, one should be practical and realistic here and not waste a lot of time eyeing journals that have a very ambitious criterion for selection.

Citation Ranking: This is easy to check through the internet you can check the number of times the publications of that journal have been used by other researchers. More the citations, greater the reputation in the field of study so always look for a journal that’s higher citation ranking as it will increase the possibility of your research also to get noticed.

Indexing of the journal: These days you will find many electronic databases that index journals and if your shortlisted journal is indexed in reputed databases, it is a feather in its cap for its reputation and accessibility as your research would be readily available to other researchers for citations and your primary objective of popularising your research would be fulfilled.

Writing the Acknowledgement Section for a Dissertation or Thesis

One of the key components of any dissertation or thesis is the acknowledgment section. It is the section of your dissertation that is completely devoted to showing appreciation and acknowledging the colleagues, professors, or other people who helped make your dissertation possible.

The acknowledgment section of the dissertation is a section that is solely dedicated to being grateful for the people who helped make the hard feat of acquiring a doctoral degree possible for the student. It is proper to thank and show gratitude for even moral support. It is known how hard a dissertation is to complete and how emotionally and mentally tasking it may become, so thanking the people who helped you morally as still seen as necessary as thanking the people who might have helped intellectually.

While only a few people were mentioned in this sample, it is expected to mention every person who helped in any way. Whether it was morally, intellectually, technically, or quite literally like a donor of your education or committee member of the dissertation which would have impossible to complete without.

Acknowledgements pages show the essence of the thesis author and their experience of a doctoral life span, but acknowledgements do matter because in amongst the celebration the right people need to be thanked in the best words.

The usual structuring principles apply: those who gave most should be given the most thanks. Supervisors will know the sad truth if the cat gets more lines than they do. Typically the structure moves from thanking the most formal support to the least formal thanks–funders, supervisors, other academics, colleagues, and finally family. This makes sense according to the logic of incremental progression because the informal thanks to family are often the most heartfelt. Close family members are often the people who gave the most (although some supervisors are likely to feel this is not true). They should also acknowledge proofreaders and editors.

Acknowledgements vary in length, and very long acknowledgement dilutes the thanks. Thanks are best when concrete. Acknowledgement must be short and crisp.

Getting Ready for a Conference

There is more to making presentation and packing your bags for a conference. Here are some tips to get the most out of a conference.

1. Your presentation
Prepare extensively for your presentation. In fact, after giving similar presentations on your research topic, you would still need enough time to give a good presentation.

Who’s your audience:
You should determine beforehand that are you presenting to researchers or people from the industry and from your own field only or different fields?

Requirements:
Always check the guidelines of the organizers before you start making your presentation because your poster size can vary with those of the boards provided by the organizers.

Slides:
Always make clear slides. Don’t write too many sentences on a single slide, make sure the font is large enough and you present your slides in an attractive way.
Practice:
Practice your presentation with some colleagues or friends. Track the time you need for your presentation, and don’t use too many slides.

2. Making Connections

Talk with speakers or persons from the organizing committee, as you can get help from these experts both academically and for career opportunities. I have seen researchers making connections with fellows of different universities and labs and mutually benefiting by the facilities in their labs.

3. Attending sessions

You should decide early which session you would like to attend from the conference schedule. Look for interesting topics and attend a session to broaden your perspective.

4. Prepare for traveling

To avoid getting stressed out right before your journey, make sure to have everything ready, including: travelling tickets, hotel reservation and confirmation of your registration at the conference. Check visa requirements if you’re traveling abroad and all your other important documents. All this should make sure that traveling itself does not take up too much of your energy to avoid that you arrive at the conference exhausted from traveling.

5. Sight Seeing

Apart from attending the conference, if the venue of your conference is a travelling destination, then you should also plan to visit the famous places in that place. You can check the places online which you should visit and plan accordingly.

Peer Review and Its Advantages for You as a Research Student

If you are a doctoral research student, then you might have the desire to get your paper published in a high impact factor journal, just as many other PhD students do. However, it is very important to know about the entire publishing process before you go on submitting your research paper or manuscript. A major thing you should know about is the activity of peer review conducted by journals.

Peer review is basically the process where a group of peer reviewers or subject matter experts review and evaluate your project on various factors and parameters. They consider the rules and publishing standards of the journal and then tally your work against these standards. The process actually checks the fitment of your project for the journal’s target readers. A peer reviewer for your project is always assigned from the same academic field that you belong to.

Peer reviewers not only judge the quality and contributions of your study, but also loom at its validity and relevance. These reviewers generally evaluate your work after an initial screening is done by the editor of the journal. Thus, they go into the depths of your content and check its correctness on linguistic, formatting, factual and stylistic parameters. They read your ideas and judge your arguments presented on the study topic. If there are any kinds of errors found in your content, then they provide you relevant feedback on it.

After reviewing your work, they also give you feedback regarding any gap in literature or scope for improvement in specific sections. Thus, such constructive feedback can always make you improve your work. Peer review basically helps you to make your work fit for your readers. Thus, you should not panic if you your paper is sent back with peer review comments and take it in a positive sense.