Is Your Gap Popular?
2 Mar 2026 · 1 min

0:46
Choosing a research gap in a hot field is risky: others are probably working on the same problem, and your gap could become obsolete before you finish. Find one that's necessary but not already crowded.

Choosing a research gap in a hot field is risky: others are probably working on the same problem, and your gap could become obsolete before you finish. Find one that's necessary but not already crowded.
Another thing that experts can tell you is this is a really popular field. Yeah, that hasn't been done. But when you hear popular field or a hot field or something like that, you want to be aware that maybe a lot of other people are doing it, too. And you don't want to get into a project that's going to take you a considerable amount of time and find out that seven publications have come out in the last month, all doing exactly what you're doing or variations of what you're doing. Your gap can go away. So, yes, you want something that needs to be done, but also that not so many people know it needs to be done that everybody's doing it. If you're struggling with finding a gap or just having difficulties in fine tuning it, join our free Dissertation Help community. I'll see you there.