Scoping a Research gap for busy PhD faculty, once you’ve chosen your data class, honed in on key keywords, and conducted a preliminary literature search, the next critical step is pinpointing a viable research gap. But as a faculty–PhD scholar, you must balance this deep dive with your teaching, committee work, and administrative load. Below is a streamlined, time-sensitive approach—adapted from CrossTab’s Research Gap guidance—for identifying stakeholder-relevant gaps without consuming half your semester (phdscholars.ankitgupta.net.in).
1. Focus on Stakeholder Value while a busy PhD faculty scopes for a research gap
A “gap” is only worth pursuing if it matters to decision-makers in your field—be they policy makers, industry leaders, or academic peers. Ask yourself:
- Why should anyone care? (commercial, regulatory, policy, pedagogical)
- Who will act on these findings? (departments, accreditation bodies, practitioners)
Spending 10 minutes mapping out these “why”s ensures you don’t chase academic curiosities that won’t resonate beyond your thesis.
2. Evaluate Unanswered Questions—Efficiently while scoping for research gap in case you are a busy PhD faculty
Allocate a 60-minute block and work through three key questions:
- What remains unanswered?
- Scan “Future Research” sections of 5–7 high-impact papers—authors self-identify gaps.
- Which gaps are viable?
- Cross-check against your accessible data: can you realistically address this with secondary or archival datasets?
- What evidence is needed?
- List the specific analyses (t-tests, regression models, SEM) and confirm you have the software/scripts in place—no steep learning curves mid-semester.
3. Seven Gap Categories for Time-Pressed Researchers
Focus primarily on Knowledge and Population gaps—these can often be addressed with existing data and minimal new fieldwork:
| Gap Type | Definition & Time-Saving Tip |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | Lack of information on a topic or context. Tip: Extend existing studies to a new setting (e.g., rural campus data you already store). |
| Population | Under-researched cohorts (significant or neglected). Tip: Leverage departmental records to isolate an underserved subgroup (e.g., first-generation students). |
By zeroing in on these two, you minimize protocol amendments and additional IRB cycles.
4. Rapid Workflow for Gap Identification
| ⏱️ Time-Block | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–15 min | Review 3 “Future Research” sections; capture 3–5 candidate gaps in a shared document. |
| 15–30 min | Match each candidate GAP to your data availability matrix (secondary vs. survey data). |
| 30–45 min | Score viability: 1–5 on access difficulty, stakeholder impact, and time to complete. |
| 45–60 min | Select the top gap; draft a one-paragraph problem statement for your proposal. |
Use a simple spreadsheet to log scores—this becomes the basis for your dissertation introduction.
5. Toolset for Time-Smart Scoping
- Zotero + Tags: Tag each “gap-tweet” (paper that mentions a gap) for quick recall.
- Google Sheets: Collaborative viability scoring matrix—update in real-time during your 60-minute block.
- Trello: Create a “Research Gaps” list with cards for each candidate; move the chosen gap to “Locked In.”
Takeaway
Research gap scoping doesn’t have to monopolize your weekends. By focusing on stakeholder-driven questions, targeting knowledge and population gaps, and time-blocking a single hour using structured worksheets, you’ll lock in a solid gap—ready to fuel your dissertation—while keeping your teaching schedule intact.
“Identify a gap that matters—and one you can actually fill with the hours you have.”
Explore more ethical research hacks for professors pursuing a PhD in India on our Ethical PhD Research Hacks for Faculty guide page
Discover more from Ankit Gupta
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.