LEARNING LOG ANSWERS

learning log 5

In which step of the scientific method do you think it is most important to identify a research gap? How can recognizing a research gap help you improve your own investigation?

I believe that the step in the scientific method where it is important to identify a research gap is ‘identifying the problem’. It is essential to identify a research gap as early as possible to ensure that your experiment contributes new information to the scientific community. When identifying a question, you have the opportunity to ask if the topic or question has been asked before, and what you can do to build on that knowledge. This helps the researcher narrow down their options for topics and helps them create a better, more testable research question. Recognizing a research gap can help you improve your own investigation, as it allows you to address issues within the field of knowledge. If you recognize a research gap, you can address something that was lacking in other materials. This ensures that your work is original and impactful as well. If you don’t recognize a research gap, there’s a chance that you will examine a field that someone has already done a very similar study on, which can lead to misunderstandings about plagiarism.