Asking chatgpt on how to adapt research gap statements for own dissertation project work: a note for MBA students

Asking chatgpt on how to adapt research gap statements for own dissertation project work: a note for MBA students.

Below is my dialogue with the assistant bot (a version of chatgpt accessed via poe.com) on the topic of research gap statement adaptation.

Finding 1

My query to the assistant bot: "I am a part-time MBA student, currently working on the formulation of my dissertation project proposal. On doing my preliminary literature review, I did come across some useful research gap statements from the academic articles. I wonder if there are any useful ways to adapt those research gap statements from others to make up my a few more tailor-made research gap statements for my project work. Could you give me some advice for that?"

The reply from the assistant bot: "Certainly, I can provide some guidance on how to adapt research gap statements from existing literature to formulate your own tailored research gap statements for your dissertation project proposal.

When adapting research gap statements from the literature, the key is to ensure that the gaps you identify are relevant and aligned with your specific research topic and objectives. Here are some steps you can follow:

Understand the context: Carefully review the research gap statements you have identified in the literature. Understand the specific context, research questions, and objectives of the studies from which these gaps were extracted.

Identify the core elements: Break down the existing research gap statements into their core elements. These typically include:

The specific area or domain of research

The limitations or shortcomings of the existing literature

The need for further investigation or exploration

Relate to your research topic: Consider how the core elements of the existing research gap statements can be adapted to fit your own research topic and objectives. Look for areas where the existing gaps can be bridged or extended to address new research questions or perspectives.

Customize and refine: Rephrase the research gap statements in a way that clearly articulates the specific gaps in knowledge or understanding that your proposed research aims to address. Ensure that the language used is concise, precise, and directly relevant to your project.

Ensure relevance and significance: Evaluate the adapted research gap statements to ensure that they are truly meaningful and impactful for your research. Consider the potential theoretical, practical, or methodological contributions that addressing these gaps could bring.

Here's an example of how you might adapt an existing research gap statement to suit your dissertation project:

Existing research gap statement:

"While previous studies have examined the impact of organizational culture on employee engagement, there is limited understanding of how different cultural dimensions, such as innovation and adaptability, influence employee well-being and productivity."

Adapted research gap statement for your project:

"Existing research on the relationship between organizational culture and employee outcomes has primarily focused on general cultural dimensions, with limited exploration of how specific cultural factors, such as digital transformation readiness and technological adaptability, may impact employee satisfaction, performance, and retention in the context of the rapidly evolving IT industry."

By following this approach, you can leverage the insights from the existing literature to develop a set of well-crafted, tailored research gap statements that will serve as a strong foundation for your dissertation project proposal."

Finding 2

My second query is: "What are some common pitfalls to avoid when formulating research gap statements?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "When formulating research gap statements for your dissertation project proposal, it's important to be aware of some common pitfalls to avoid. Here are a few key things to keep in mind:

Overly broad or vague statements: Research gap statements that are too broad or vague may lack the necessary focus and specificity to guide your research effectively. Ensure that your gaps are precisely defined and clearly articulate the specific area or issue that needs to be addressed.

Lack of alignment with research objectives: Your research gap statements should be closely aligned with the objectives and scope of your proposed dissertation project. Ensure that the gaps you identify are directly relevant to your research questions and the problem you aim to investigate.

Oversimplification or oversaturation: Avoid research gap statements that either oversimplify the problem or suggest that the field is completely saturated with existing research. Your gaps should highlight nuanced, under-explored, or underappreciated aspects of the topic.

Insufficient justification or evidence: Each research gap statement should be supported by a clear rationale and evidence from the existing literature. Avoid making claims or identifying gaps without providing a solid foundation for their significance.

Lack of novelty or originality: While building on the work of others is important, your research gap statements should also demonstrate the uniqueness and innovation of your proposed study. Ensure that the gaps you identify represent opportunities for novel contributions.

Overreliance on previous research gaps: Be cautious about simply replicating or rephrasing research gaps from other studies without carefully considering their relevance and applicability to your own project. Adapt and refine the gaps to ensure they reflect your specific research context and objectives.

Failure to consider alternative perspectives: When formulating research gaps, try to anticipate and address potential counterarguments or alternative viewpoints. This will strengthen the credibility and robustness of your gap statements.

By being mindful of these common pitfalls, you can craft research gap statements that are well-grounded, impactful, and strategically aligned with the goals of your dissertation project."

Finding 3

My third query is: "Can you provide examples of well-formulated research gap statements?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "Certainly, here are some examples of well-formulated research gap statements that you may find useful for your dissertation project:

Gap in understanding organizational agility in the digital era:

"While existing literature has examined the concept of organizational agility, there is limited empirical research on how digital transformation initiatives and emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, can enable and enhance agility within large enterprises. Further investigation is needed to understand the specific organizational capabilities, processes, and managerial practices that facilitate digital agility and allow organizations to respond effectively to rapidly changing market conditions."

Gap in exploring the impact of remote work on employee well-being:

"Recent studies have explored the impact of remote work on employee productivity and work-life balance, but there is a lack of in-depth understanding of how prolonged remote work arrangements affect the physical and mental well-being of employees. Additional research is needed to investigate the various psychosocial factors, such as social isolation, burnout, and technology-related stress, that may influence the health and well-being of remote workers, particularly in the context of the post-pandemic business environment."

Gap in examining the role of sustainability in supply chain management:

"Existing supply chain management literature has primarily focused on cost optimization and efficiency, with limited exploration of the integration of sustainability principles, such as environmental preservation, social responsibility, and circular economy practices. There is a need for more comprehensive research that examines how organizations can strategically align their supply chain operations with sustainable development goals, and the potential trade-offs or synergies between sustainability and traditional supply chain performance metrics."

Gap in understanding the impact of online education on student engagement:

"While the rapid shift to online and hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extensively documented, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of how the transition to virtual classrooms has affected student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes across different subject areas and educational levels. Further research is needed to investigate the specific pedagogical approaches, technological tools, and student support mechanisms that can enhance engagement and learning in online and blended learning environments."

Remember, these are just examples, and you should carefully tailor the research gap statements to the specific focus and objectives of your dissertation project. The key is to ensure that the gaps you identify are both relevant and impactful within the context of your research."

Finding 4

My fourth query is: "Is it feasible to provide research gap statements in a more concise form, and then derive them into some kind of research objective statements?"

The reply from the assistant bot is: "Yes, it is quite feasible to start with more concise research gap statements and then derive research objective statements from them. This approach can be helpful in clearly articulating the focus and direction of your dissertation research.

Here's an example of how you might do this:

Concise Research Gap Statement:

"Limited understanding of how digital transformation initiatives impact organizational agility in large enterprises."

Derived Research Objective Statement:

"The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of digital transformation initiatives, such as the adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, on the development of organizational agility capabilities within large enterprises. The research aims to identify the specific organizational processes, managerial practices, and technological enablers that facilitate digital-driven agility and allow organizations to respond effectively to rapidly changing market conditions."

In this example, the concise research gap statement highlights the key issue: the lack of understanding about the relationship between digital transformation and organizational agility. The derived research objective statement then expands on this by clearly articulating the specific goals of the study, including:

Investigating the influence of digital transformation initiatives on organizational agility.

Identifying the organizational processes, practices, and technological enablers that facilitate digital-driven agility.

Understanding how digital-driven agility allows organizations to respond to changing market conditions.

By starting with a concise research gap statement and then deriving a more comprehensive research objective statement, you can ensure that your dissertation research is focused, aligned, and addresses a meaningful gap in the existing literature.

When formulating research objective statements, you may also want to consider including additional elements, such as:

The theoretical or practical significance of the research

The specific research questions or hypotheses to be investigated

The methodological approach or data sources to be employed

Structuring your research proposal in this way, with concise gap statements leading to well-defined objectives, can help you create a clear and compelling research plan for your dissertation project."

Some overall evaluation comments

The assistant bot was able to suggest how to formulate tailor-made research gap statements for dissertation proposal formulation. The examples provided by the bot are useful for illustration purpose.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.