PSY 535: Scientific Literature

Helpful Hints for Writing A Critique

• Your knowledge of the discipline in which you are working is the basis on which you build the explanation.
• Successful critiquing begins with the READING

 What is a research gap?

When there is a gap in the research itself, there will also naturally be a gap in the literature. A research gap is defined as a topic or area for which missing or inadequate information limits the ability of reviewers to reach a conclusion for a given question. 

How to Find a Gap in Research?

• Find a topic that hasn’t been approached before by any other researchers.
• Look for topics or issues that are missing or not addressed within (or related to) your main Topic.  
• The wording in a journal article usually like these:

             …has/have not been… (studied / reported / elucidated)

             …is required/needed…

             …the key question is/remains…

             …it is important to address…

• Read a literature review or systematic review article for a topic: These documents plunge deeply into scholarly literature and identify trends and paradigm shifts in fields of study. Sometimes they reveal areas or topics that need more attention from researchers and scientists.