Research Gap Evaluation

Research Gap Evaluation

To prepare:

  • Review what you have learned about evaluating research articles in terms of their relationship to your discipline and to your proposed topic.
  • Review the articles in your Research Articles Summaries and apply the evaluation questions to each one. You may need to reopen the article to do this.
  • Review the video resources on finding the gap in the research literature related to your topic.

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Research Gap Evaluation
Post your response to the following:

  • Last week, you described the steps to identifying a research gap in literature. Describe how that process went as you reviewed previous studies and any new ones you have identified for this week’s Assignment. For example, what challenges in evaluating a research study are you encountering?

Note: Your posts should be substantial (500 words minimum), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA style.

Research Gap Evaluation

  1. What steps did you follow to identify the research gap in the literature?,

  2. How did reviewing previous studies help you in that process?,

  3. Did you find any new articles this week to support your topic?,

  4. What challenges are you encountering while evaluating research studies?,

  5. How are you applying evaluation questions to each article?

Identifying a research gap within forensic psychology literature has been both enlightening and complex. The process required careful reading, comparative analysis, and critical thinking. My topic of focus involves the psychological assessment of criminal offenders and how forensic evaluations influence court decisions, particularly surrounding issues of competency and risk assessment. To find a relevant gap, I had to review various empirical studies, meta-analyses, and literature reviews, while applying key evaluation criteria—such as relevance to forensic psychology, clarity of research objectives, methodology, and findings.

The first step in identifying the research gap was to compile a comprehensive list of peer-reviewed articles related to my topic. I began by reviewing the sources used in my earlier Research Article Summaries and expanded my search to include additional databases such as PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and Criminal Justice Abstracts. I also used specific search terms like “forensic psychological assessment,” “competency to stand trial,” “risk assessment tools,” and “courtroom decision-making.”

As I reviewed these studies, I applied questions such as:

  • What was the purpose of the research?,

  • Is the study relevant to forensic psychology?,

  • What methodology was used, and is it sound?,

  • Are there limitations or biases in the study?,

  • What are the implications and suggestions for futu

Research Gap Evaluation