Many PhD scholars spend hours reviewing journal articles and research papers, yet they often struggle with one important task: how to write an academic gap. Supervisors frequently ask, “What is new in your study?” or “What gap does your research address?” If you cannot answer these questions clearly, your research proposal may lack originality and academic significance.

A research gap is not simply a topic that has never been studied. It is an unanswered question, limitation, inconsistency, or unexplored area within existing literature that requires further investigation. Understanding how to identify and write a literature gapis essential for developing a meaningful and publishable study.

What Is a Research Gap?

A literature gap in academic research is a missing element in existing research that creates an opportunity for further study. It helps researchers identify areas where knowledge is incomplete or where additional evidence is needed.

In simple terms, an academic gap answers the question: “What important issue has not been adequately addressed by previous studies?”

A clearly defined gap provides the justification for your research and highlights its originality.

Research Gap Analysis Explained

academic analysis is the process of reviewing existing literature to identify what has already been studied and what is still missing. It helps researchers understand limitations, contradictions, and unexplored areas in previous studies. This step is important because it guides scholars to move from a broad topic to a clear and focused academic gap. By doing proper analysis, PhD researchers can avoid repetition, find new research opportunities, and build a strong foundation for original and meaningful academic work.

Why Is Writing a Research Gap Important?

A well-written literature gap helps scholars:

Demonstrate the significance of their study

Establish originality and contribution

Develop focused research objectives

Strengthen research questions

Justify the need for further investigation

Without a clear research gap, research can appear repetitive and lack academic value.

Step-by-Step Process to Write a Research Gap

Step 1: Review Existing Literature

Read recent journal articles, conference papers, and scholarly publications related to your topic. Pay attention to limitations, recommendations, and future research suggestions.

Step 2: Identify What Is Already Known

Summarize the major findings from previous studies.

Example:

Several studies have examined the impact of artificial intelligence on student learning outcomes in higher education.

Step 3: Find What Is Missing

Look for unanswered questions or underexplored areas.

Example:

Most studies focus on developed countries, while limited research explores AI-based learning adoption in developing nations.

This unexplored area becomes the study gap.

Step 4: Explain Why the Gap Matters

A strong research gap should explain why addressing the issue is important. Differences in technology access, educational infrastructure, and digital literacy may create unique challenges that existing studies have not considered.

Step 5: Link the Gap to Your Study

Clearly explain how your research will address the identified gap.

Example:

This study investigates AI-based learning adoption among university students in India, addressing a geographical limitation in previous research.

Example of a Strong Research Gap

Weak Statement:

There is limited research on online learning.

Strong Statement:

Although many studies have examined online learning effectiveness, most focus on undergraduate students in developed countries. Limited research explores its long-term impact on doctoral scholars in emerging economies.

Conclusion

New Post has been published on http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/30/michigans-vast-asian-black-academic-performance-gap/

Michigan's vast Asian-Black academic performance gap

We already discussed the fact that Detroit schools receive more money per pupil than other districts, but have lower test scores.

Does this trend hold true for other majority black districts?

Yes. Flint City School District is over 80% black and has a budget of $13.1k per pupil per year. Grand Rapids Public Schools is only about 20% white, with the rest split between blacks and Latinos. They have a budget of $11.9k per pupil. The River Rouge School District is 70% black and 15% Latino. They have a budget of $13.1k per pupil.

Cadilac Area Public Schools is 93% white. Their budget is $9.3k per student. Traverse City Area Public Schools is 91% white. They have a budget of $9.7k per pupil.

Majority black public school districts in Michigan universally receive more money per pupil that majority white public school districts.

But what about proficiency test scores?

The state of Michigan published a report on proficiency test scores and race. Click here for the full report in pdf format. Below is graphs of state proficiency test in math and English.

Asians absolutely dominate in every single category. Blacks trail in every single category. You could say that Asian immigrants to the USA, on average, are among the top performers of their nations. Asians compete to come to the USA to go to college and then many stay. Other Asian immigrants come to the USA specifically to take advantage of Federal taxpayer subsidized small business loans to immigrants. These are people who tend to be intelligent and ambitious.

Ok, but Latinos immigrants, on average, are from poor underperforming families. Many come to the USA to do menial labor. Their children still outperform black Americans.

New Post has been published on http://narrative-collapse.com/2017/03/30/what-is-666-million-a-year-for-education-buying-detroit/

What is $666 million a year for education buying Detroit?

Note: We used High School Proficiency Test scores from 2010 because it was the most recent year that we could get scores for all four districts for the same tests.

The Detroit Public School system was founded in 1842, and today it is the largest school district in Michigan. It covers 97 schools and 48,000 students. In 2016, it had a budget of $666 million. They spent $13.9k per student. The students are 87% black. In 2010, 37% of High School students passed the reading proficiency test and 16% passed the math proficiency test.

The second largest district is Utica Community Schools with 28,000 students. They had a budget of $277 million in 2016. They spent $9.9k per student. The students are 88% white. In 2010, 72% of High School students passed the reading proficiency test and 63% passed the math proficiency test.

The third largest district is Dearborn City School District with 18,300 students. They had a budget of $227 million in 2016. They spent $12.4k per student. In 2016, 66% of the entire student body was Arab. The inflated cost is supposed to be covering the cost of a bi-lingual education. (The Federal government classifies this as a 91% white district by the way). In 2010, 69% of High School students passed the reading proficiency test and 52% passed the math proficiency test.

  The fourth largest is Plymouth-Canton Community Schools with 17,100 students. They had an annual budget of $154 million in 2015. That is $9.0k per student. Students in this district are 73% white. In 2010, 79% of High School students passed the reading proficiency test and 71% passed the math proficiency test.

So what is the point of all this?

Bill Clinton boosts interest in program to help poor families close achievement gap

An unfamiliar early childhood education program, which has been around for decades, is getting new attention, thanks to former President Bill Clinton.

He praised HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) in his speech last month at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

“Twenty years of research has shown how well this program works to improve…

Using Music to Close the Academic Gap

Several times a week, a group of at-risk youth in Los Angeles reports to makeshift music rooms at Alexandria Elementary School near Koreatown for lessons in violin or cello or bass—and to Saturday ensemble programs where they learn to play with bands and orchestras. As the students study their instruments, researchers study the students’ brains.

The children, who devote at least five hours per week to their music, are participants in the award-winning non-profit Harmony Project, which provides free instruments and instruction to kids in underserved areas of the city if they promise to stay in school. The scientists, who hail from Northwestern University’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, travel from Evanston, Illinois to a satellite lab in Hollywood for a few weeks each year to examine the impact of the music lessons on the children’s language and cognitive skills. What they are finding, according to Dr. Nina Kraus, a professor and neuroscientist at Northwestern and lead researcher of the study, is that music instruction not only improves children’s communication skills, attention, and memory, but that it may even close the academic gap between rich and poor students. Kraus reported these results in a National Endowment of the Arts-sponsored webinar in July.