tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post4488772653548021971..comments2024-03-20T11:58:45.251-04:00Comments on Walden University Writing Center: Defining a Gap in the Literature: On Proving the Presence of an AbsenceWalden Writing Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-59277301060075407212019-09-24T21:03:08.297-04:002019-09-24T21:03:08.297-04:00This is a great question! The general answer is th...This is a great question! The general answer is that a "hole" or gap can be very narrow and specific. This can be helpful for many scholars because it directs the research question in a very clear way. In the example you gave, there are many many research questions about "drug use among high schoolers" but there are fewer possible research questions for "marijuana use among Black high school athletes in Michigan." So yes, the hole can become smaller and smaller and that can really benefit the proposed research.<br /><br />Now the more specific answer is - for your research, it is best to work with your direct team to determine how general vs. specific your research gap should be. Your instructor, chair, and committee are all experts in the field and can best guide your choice of how specific you should get. I hope that helps! If you need more follow-up on this, please email writingsupport@waldenu.edu Walden Writing Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-85992160959631571482019-09-24T04:38:59.686-04:002019-09-24T04:38:59.686-04:00I have a question regarding the size of the 'h...I have a question regarding the size of the 'hole'. One of the Walden Webinars that I listened to described defining the problem as a 'focusing-in'. The example used was 'High School Drug Use', reducing to 'Drug Use Amongst High School Athletes', then again to 'Marijuana Use Amongst High School Athletes', and again to 'Marijuana Use Amongst Black High School Athletes' and finally to 'Marijuana Use Amongst Black High School Athletes in a Specific State'. As the problem becomes more and more granular, does that mean the 'hole' can be smaller and smaller - i.e. if nothing specifically covers the very refined problem - is that a gap? Or, are other studies (perhaps covering 'Marijuana Use Amongst High School Athletes') regarded as generalisable to the more detailed issue? So, how big does the donut hole need to be?Jeremy Boucher (Walden PhD Education Student)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10773691367936740643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-14219168147394281992018-09-04T12:58:19.924-04:002018-09-04T12:58:19.924-04:00You're welcome! We're glad that our post w...You're welcome! We're glad that our post was helpful for you. You can find more information on literature reviews on our website: http://bit.ly/2ry7AqoWalden Writing Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-74520676996141929932018-09-04T11:48:31.678-04:002018-09-04T11:48:31.678-04:00Thank you so much for this post, it really clarifi...Thank you so much for this post, it really clarified the concept of "gaps in literature" for me and it gives me more of a point of focus when researching literature.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09957540981131212941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-88556817365698958732016-12-09T08:45:52.333-05:002016-12-09T08:45:52.333-05:00Thanks for the comment! Yes, the tricky thing abou...Thanks for the comment! Yes, the tricky thing about gaps is that they are "absences" (i.e., things that are "not"), and thus frustrate attempts at positive definitions.Walden Writing Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-10163365790774803342016-12-08T19:29:04.706-05:002016-12-08T19:29:04.706-05:00Thank you for this information, however, it doesn&...Thank you for this information, however, it doesn't seem to give a good description of what a Gap is, only what it isn't.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06206826023301795222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-64999933377534629322016-08-10T10:29:43.375-04:002016-08-10T10:29:43.375-04:00Great to hear--glad that you find this useful!Great to hear--glad that you find this useful!Walden Writing Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-80676821228836184372016-08-09T11:26:54.429-04:002016-08-09T11:26:54.429-04:00Yes. Dr. Harland just sent this to me. Thank you ...Yes. Dr. Harland just sent this to me. Thank you Dr. Harland. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-44494030229467940912015-01-13T08:50:17.602-05:002015-01-13T08:50:17.602-05:00"The donut post"--we love it! Thanks for..."The donut post"--we love it! Thanks for sharing, Dr. Darci. It's so great to hear from faculty and students who find our posts helpful. Walden Writing Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436616060065528527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120445675003001381.post-54980294496361407802015-01-13T07:46:28.034-05:002015-01-13T07:46:28.034-05:00Thanks for this wonderful post on how to define th...Thanks for this wonderful post on how to define the donut "hole." I have started sending this link to my students at the prospectus and literature review phase! It is known affectionately in our mentor group as "the donut post" ~Dr. Darci Dr. Harlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10801936551030023894noreply@blogger.com