A note on research gaps in dissertation projects (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "What is research gap all about with reference to MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects?"
The reply: "A research gap refers to an area within a field of study where existing knowledge or literature is insufficient, incomplete, or where unanswered questions remain. It represents a "missing piece" or an unexplored topic that a dissertation or research project can aim to address by providing new insights or filling that gap in understanding.
Research Gap in MBA Dissertation Projects
In MBA dissertations, identifying a research gap involves engaging with existing literature in the chosen area to pinpoint gaps in knowledge or issues that have not been sufficiently studied. This gap then serves as the foundation for formulating research questions and objectives. The MBA dissertation often focuses on recognizing areas where business theory or practice has limited evidence or conflicting findings, thus offering an opportunity for contribution through original research.
Research Gap in Housing Studies Dissertation Projects
In Housing Studies, a research gap might be identified through a thorough review of literature related to housing policies, social impacts of housing, or specific demographic groups' housing needs. For example, studies might reveal a lack of focus on certain populations (e.g., youth housing discourse) or limited evaluation of housing programs' effectiveness (e.g., permanent supportive housing). Identifying these gaps is essential to advance knowledge, propose policy recommendations, or improve housing models.
Importance of Identifying Research Gaps
Research gaps guide the focus of dissertation projects to ensure that new knowledge is generated rather than duplicating existing work.
They provide justification for why the study is needed and demonstrate the research's potential contribution to academic literature and practical applications.
Identifying these gaps often involves critical analysis of literature, understanding limitations of previous studies, and consulting experts or stakeholders.
In summary, for both MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects, a research gap highlights the under-researched or unresolved issues in the field, serving as the critical starting point for meaningful and original research. This process ensures that dissertations address relevant and significant questions that advance knowledge in their respective disciplines."
My question 2: "What are the advantages and disadvantage of deriving a research objective from a chosen research gap with regard to the discussion here?"
The reply: "Deriving research objectives from a chosen research gap has both advantages and disadvantages, especially in the context of MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects.
Advantages
Focus and Direction: Research objectives derived from a gap maintain a clear and specific focus for the study, helping researchers stay on track and avoid deviation from the core issue. This is crucial in MBA dissertations where narrowing down the broad topics to manageable research problems is often challenging.
Efficient Resource Use: Well-defined objectives allow optimal use of time, effort, and resources by targeting the identified gap directly, avoiding unnecessary data collection and irrelevant analyses.
Contribution Clarity: Objectives aligned with research gaps clearly demonstrate the contribution of the study to existing knowledge or practice, which is important for the academic and practical relevance of MBA and Housing Studies projects.
SMART Framework: When research objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound), they lead to structured research processes and measurable outcomes, enhancing the quality and feasibility of the research.
Disadvantages
Potential Bias or Narrowness: Focusing strictly on the identified gap might limit the research scope excessively, potentially overlooking broader or related issues that could be significant. This could reduce the depth or applicability of the findings.
Ambiguity if Not Clear: If the research gap is not well defined or understood, deriving objectives from it can lead to vague or ambiguous goals, complicating the research design and execution.
Feasibility Challenges: Sometimes, research gaps identified might require resources, data access, or expertise beyond the researcher’s capacity, making some objectives unrealistic or difficult to achieve within the dissertation constraints.
In essence, deriving research objectives from a research gap provides a focused roadmap and justifies the study's relevance, but it requires careful definition and consideration of the research context to avoid limitations related to scope and feasibility. This balance is critical in both MBA and Housing Studies dissertations to ensure practical and scholarly value."
My question 3: "Provide a brief chronological account on the topic of research gap in social science."
The reply: "A brief chronological account of the topic of research gap in social science is as follows:
The concept of a research gap in social science emerged as scholars recognized that research often leaves unanswered questions or insufficiently studied areas that constrain reliable judgment and knowledge development. Early understandings framed it as the lack of knowledge or methodological limitations in addressing specific questions within a field.
Through the 20th century and into recent years, systematic methods to identify research gaps have developed, including citation analysis, content analysis, meta-analysis, and systematic reviews. These methods enable scholars to analyze existing literature critically and identify where evidence is lacking or where further study can contribute.
Recent scholarship has highlighted debates about the notion of the "gap" itself. Some argue the term is overstated since many disciplines have active research areas and what is often identified is a narrow niche rather than a wide gap. There are critiques that focusing solely on gaps might preserve the status quo and discourage innovation or broader problem reframing in social sciences.
The application of research gap analysis has increasingly become a crucial step in social science research design, especially for theses and dissertations, helping to position studies in relation to existing knowledge and justify their contributions. However, it is also acknowledged that research gaps should be clearly justified for significance, and filling a gap is not the only purpose of research.
In sum, the research gap concept in social science has evolved from identifying knowledge deficiencies to a sophisticated, debated, and nuanced element of research framing that informs the relevance and direction of scholarly inquiries."
My question 4: "How does the researcher positionality affect the choice of research gaps to study in his/ her dissertation project in the fields of MBA and Housing Studies?"
The reply: "Researcher positionality significantly affects the choice of research gaps in dissertation projects in MBA and Housing Studies by shaping the researcher's perspective, priorities, and interpretations.
Influence of Positionality on Choice of Research Gaps
Personal and Professional Background: The researcher’s identity, experiences, and professional context influence what they consider important or neglected in the literature. For example, an MBA student with a finance background may perceive gaps in financial performance research, whereas a Housing Studies researcher with experience in social policy might focus on housing inequalities or policy gaps.
Insider vs. Outsider Perspective: Positionality influences whether the researcher is an insider (embedded within the context or community studied) or an outsider. Insiders may identify nuanced, practice-based gaps reflecting lived experience, while outsiders might focus on broader structural or theoretical gaps.
Values and Worldview: The researcher's beliefs and values guide what issues are deemed significant and worthy of study. This shapes the framing of research questions and the selection of gaps aligned with their worldview, such as emphasizing sustainability in housing or ethical business practices in MBA topics.
Access and Relationships: Positionality affects access to data, participants, and research sites, which in turn impacts which gaps are practically feasible to study. For example, insiders in a housing community might have better access to participants, influencing the scope of the gap they choose to study.
Implications for MBA and Housing Studies Dissertations
MBA researchers' positionalities can lead to focusing on gaps related to organizational behavior, market trends, or strategy that resonate with their career experience.
Housing Studies researchers may prioritize gaps addressing social justice, community development, or housing policy shaped by their societal and cultural positioning.
Awareness and transparent disclosure of positionality help clarify how a researcher's background shapes the identification and framing of research gaps, ensuring ethical and reflexive research practices.
In summary, researcher positionality deeply influences the identification and choice of research gaps in MBA and Housing Studies dissertations by filtering what is noticed, valued, and feasible to study, making reflexivity essential for robust research design and interpretation."
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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