Research gaps in qualitative research: why it’s not really about “finding a gap”
If you're doing a PhD, you've probably been told that your research needs to “find a gap in the literature.”
Supervisors say it.
Methods textbooks say it.
Journal reviewers say it.
And at some point you may find yourself staring at dozens of papers thinking:
“Where exactly is this supposed gap?”
It can start to feel like the entire PhD depends on discovering a single missing puzzle piece that nobody else has noticed.
But here’s the thing.
In qualitative research, the idea of a neat, empty “gap” in the literature is often misleading.
Qualitative research rarely works like filling an empty hole.
More often, it contributes by interpreting a phenomenon differently, examining it in a new context, or offering a deeper explanation of something researchers already know exists.
So instead of obsessing over “finding the gap,” it’s usually more helpful to think about how your research contributes to the ongoing conversation in your field.
Let’s unpack what that means.
Why the “research gap” idea can be misleading
The idea of a research gap often comes from traditions where research aims to identify missing variables, unexplored relationships, or unanswered causal questions.
That logic fits quite well with many quantitative studies.
But qualitative research often has a different goal.
Rather than asking:
“What hasn't been studied yet?”
qualitative researchers often ask:
How do people experience this phenomenon?
How have researchers interpreted it differently?
What explanations dominate the literature?
What perspectives might be missing?
In other words, qualitative research often contributes by reframing the conversation, not just filling a blank space.
What qualitative research actually contributes
A qualitative PhD usually contributes in one (or more) of the following ways.
A new perspective
Sometimes a phenomenon has already been studied extensively.
But the theoretical lens used to interpret it may be narrow.
Your research might bring in a different conceptual framework that reveals new insights.
A different context
Research findings often come from specific settings.
For example:
one country
one profession
one institutional environment
Exploring the same issue in a different context can generate important new understanding.
A deeper explanation
Some topics are studied frequently, but often superficially.
Qualitative research can dig deeper into the meanings, interpretations, and lived experiences behind those phenomena.
A challenge to dominant assumptions
Sometimes the literature presents a widely accepted explanation.
Your research might question that explanation and offer an alternative interpretation.
That’s not a gap.
That’s a new contribution to the debate.
Instead of asking “Where is the gap?” ask this
When reviewing the literature for a qualitative PhD, better questions often include:
What explanations dominate this field?
What assumptions do researchers tend to make?
Which perspectives are missing or underexplored?
What contexts have been overlooked?
How might a different theoretical lens change the interpretation?
These questions help you position your research within the intellectual conversation, rather than searching for a mythical empty space.
How your literature review helps you position your research
Your literature review is where this positioning becomes visible.
Instead of simply summarising existing studies, you are analysing:
how researchers conceptualise the issue
where their explanations converge
where interpretations differ
what questions remain open
This is why qualitative literature reviews are often thematic or narrative rather than purely descriptive. They show how knowledge in the field has developed and where your research offers a fresh perspective.
Your PhD contribution does not need to be revolutionary
Another misconception about research gaps is that your PhD must uncover something completely new.
In reality, doctoral research often contributes by:
refining existing ideas
applying concepts to new contexts
deepening understanding of familiar phenomena
Think of it less like discovering a new continent and more like adding detail to the map. That is still a meaningful contribution to knowledge.
Testing your research idea
Once you think you know how your research fits into the literature, it helps to test the idea.
Ask yourself:
What conversation in the literature am I entering?
What perspective am I bringing to that conversation?
What new insight might my research provide?
Then discuss it with your supervisor or peers.
Often, the clarity comes through conversation rather than solitary reading.
If your literature review still feels messy
Positioning your research within the literature can feel overwhelming, especially in qualitative research where the goal is interpretation rather than simple summarisation.
Many PhD researchers struggle to move from a pile of notes and articles to a clear thematic literature review structure.
If you want structured help building a qualitative literature review, my Literature Review PhD Survival Guide walks you through how to:
develop a thematic literature review
position your research within existing debates
move from scattered notes to a coherent chapter
You can explore the guide here when you’re ready for structured, step-by-step support.
Want more guidance like this?
If you're navigating qualitative research, literature reviews, and thesis writing, you might also want to join my email community.
I regularly share practical guidance on:
qualitative research design
conceptual and theoretical foundations
literature reviews and thematic analysis
navigating the PhD process
You can join the email community here.
