Research Gap & Research Question Development

"What is your research question?" is often the hardest question a student is asked. A topic such as "migration and education" is a starting point, not a question. And a gap that is simply claimed ("no one has studied this") rarely convinces a supervisor. This service helps you build both from your own reading.

What it means

A research gap is something the existing literature has not yet answered well. It might be a group, place or period that has not been studied, a conflict between findings, a method that has not been tried, or a recent change that older studies could not capture. A research question is the specific question your project will answer to address part of that gap.

Good questions are focused, answerable with the time and data you have, and connected to a gap you can show through sources. We help you test your ideas against those standards. The ideas themselves must come from you.

Problems it addresses

• A topic so broad that any answer would be superficial
• A gap stated without evidence from the literature
• A question that is really several questions combined
• Questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no" and leave nothing to discuss
• Questions that would need data you cannot access, or more time than you have
• A mismatch between the question and the kind of method you plan to use
• Several possible topics and no clear way to choose

When you might need it

• You must submit a topic, exposé or proposal soon and have only a general interest.
• Your supervisor has said your question is "too broad" or "not researchable".
• You found a gap in one article's "future research" section and want to check it is realistic.
• You are changing topic midway and need to rebuild your question quickly.
• You are unsure whether your question suits a qualitative or quantitative approach.

How the guidance works

1. Share your topic and reading. Send your topic notes, any draft questions and a list of key sources you have read.
2. Agree scope and quote. We confirm whether guidance is a discussion, written feedback on draft questions, or both.
3. Test gaps and questions together. We ask what the literature agrees on, where it conflicts and what is missing, and test each draft question for focus, feasibility and fit with possible methods.
4. Refine your question yourself. You reword and narrow the question based on what you learned.
5. Check alignment, if agreed. We look at whether your final question, aims and planned method line up.

What to prepare

• The topic or proposal requirements from your department or programme
• Your current topic idea and any draft questions, however rough
• A list of sources you have read, with brief notes if possible
• Any "limitations" or "future research" sections that interested you
• Supervisor comments on earlier versions
• Your timeline and any limits on data access

What you receive

Depending on the scope agreed in your quote, this can include:

• a list of questions to consider for each possible gap, based on the reading you share
• written comments on each of your draft research questions
• an explained comparison of your options, showing the strengths and risks of each
• notes on how your question could connect to aims, objectives and method
• a feedback summary
• a discussion by message or call

Outside the scope

• Supplying a research gap, topic or question for you to adopt
• Searching the literature to find a gap for you
• Writing the problem statement or rationale for your proposal
• Promising that your question will be approved

Developing your own question is part of what your work is assessed on. See our academic integrity page.

An illustrative example

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my gap is real?

A convincing gap is shown through sources: you can point to what studies have covered and explain what they have not. If you can only say "I could not find anything", search more widely or ask your librarian. Our critical thinking guide helps you read for gaps.

Should I have a hypothesis instead of a question?

That depends on your discipline and method. Hypotheses are common in quantitative, experimental work; open questions are common in qualitative work. Your guidelines and supervisor decide.

Can I try on my own first?

Yes. The research question builder walks you from topic to draft questions, and the research proposals guide shows how the question fits into a proposal.