How to find the Gap in the literature PH

How to find the literature gap

1. How to Find a Gap in the Literature Meghan Testerman College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Librarian Walden University

2. How to find a gap (in 5 easy steps!) Start with your area of interest Drug use among teenagers Use exploratory research to examine the current research in the field– there will be lots! Don’t panic! Start to narrow your area of interest down using narrower terms and defining concepts marijuana use among high school students Start to look at what the literature covers and what it doesn’t marijuana use among high school athletes Look for opportunities to build on existing research: populations that have been under-researched, variables that haven’t been explored, opportunities for ‘further research’ marijuana use among high school athletes in Chicago.

3. To the Library!

4. Finding a gap drug use among teenagers (1000+ articles) marijuana use among high school students (100s) marijuana use among high school athletes (dozens) marijuana use among high school athletes in Chicago (close to 0)

5. Scope and Purpose of the Literature Review Survey the current literature on your topic The literature you include needs to provide: Evidence of a phenomenon in the field and evidence of a gap in the research regarding that phenomenon. Justification for why your study needs to be done. 

6. Determine Information Needs: Evidence Evidence Evidence of a phenomenon that is significant to the field: teacher burnout coping mechanisms of patients with chronic illnesses successful leadership traits Evidence of a gap: the phenomenon exists, but a specific aspect of that phenomenon has not been studied (specific population, group, geographical location, etc ): Teacher burnout among first year teachers in Special Education in North Carolina Coping mechanisms of Type 1 Diabetics who have been diabetic for over 20 years Successful leadership traits of individuals leading start-up companies who manage employees remotely

7. Determine Information Needs:  Justification Literature should provide justification Why the study should be done Demand for research An authentic puzzle to be solved For more information: Litmus Test

8. Literature Research