FIND THE GAP Knowns unknowns and known unknowns

FIND THE GAP

Knowns, unknowns, and known unknowns* What is known? What is not known? What are you interested in knowing more about? * Paraphrased from Donald Rumsfield, who said in 2002 “There are knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there also unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”

“Research gaps” are flexible in this class A traditional research gap suggests further research. For example, While researchers like Perl and Berkenkotter utilized the think-aloud method to study other writers, no major studies to date have considered how a writer might study themselves.

There are different kinds of gaps. • • Something's missing (this hasn't been discussed) Something merits more discussion. A combination of traditionally separate fields might lead to new knowledge (i. e. marketing and advertising) A new perspective o For example, Caitlyn said: many people talk about the effect of learning communities on students, no one spends much time talking about effects on teachers. This should be discussed.

But that's not the only kind of gap In addition to more traditional research, you might suggest that what is missing is a lesson plan or college course about your topic a translation of technical information for the broader public An educational tool for a different audience • • I do this because as first and second year students, you may not be ready to do original research in your field. That’s ok.

You might also just explain the problem Have you identified, through your research, a problem in a particular field? Another way to think of the research gap is whether you think this information needs to be delivered to an audience that might be unaware of it.

For example. . Jessica is researching gender inequalities in obstetrics and gynecology. Instead of trying to conduct research in that area, she may decide that the information she has brought together needs to reach a new audience. What are some audiences that might benefit from knowing whether or not women and men are treated differently during medical school?

So, for this class, that could be a research gap Jessica might decide to write: While all of this information is available throught databases, to date there has been no effort to educate medical school deans and directors of these trends in gender differences in medical education. There is a gap in information available to these important leaders.

Do you see how the research gap leads to the project proposal?

Spend five minutes listing three possible research gaps that could come from your research. Now share them : )

Project Proposals Your project proposal comes directly from the research gap. If you have a traditional research gap, you might have a traditional project that proposes research like a survey an interview a study • • •

Project Proposals: nontraditional But if you identify a nontraditional research gap, your project might look different as well. Your project proposal might be preparing educational materials creating a website writing to stakeholders taking information and moving it to a new genre for a new audience proposing a new plan or solution to a problem • • •

Conference sign up! Please sign up for conferences using the link below. You'll need to have your lit review draft at your conference, which should include an introduction, some content paragraphs, and your first attempt at identifying a research gap. http: //doodle. com/b 5 x 4 arszezq 4 m 734