How can you write a thesis that shows your unique contribution?

Identifying research gaps is a crucial step in the research process, as it helps you focus your study on areas that have not been extensively explored or where existing knowledge is insufficient. Here's a systematic approach to identify research gaps: 1. Start by conducting a comprehensive literature review on your chosen topic. Use academic databases, journals, books, and other reputable sources to gather information. 2. Thoroughly review existing literature to understand what has already been studied and published on your chosen topic.

The first and foremost thing to do is to identify the research gap in the existing literature. For this, a thorough literature review needs to be carried out to understand what has already been studied and to identify the areas under your topic which are understudied and needs attention.

Picking a research idea that ignites your interest and trying to write a thesis out of it can often reveal that there is already an adequate amount of research available on that topic. But identifying what domain ignites the spark would help one go through loads of research papers to identify a gap, say, a method that could be done differently. For instance, there are many studies on family firms, but interestingly, not every paper has the same way of measuring family ownership, some with subjective ways of measuring it. Or, comparing studies across various dimensions of culture could be an option. Thorough research about not only the topics, but also the variables used and diaspora selected could help one identify their area of study.

It is common to discover that there is already a significant amount of research available on a topic that ignites your interest when you attempt to write a thesis about it. However, identifying the domain that excites you can help you sift through many research papers to identify a gap, such as an alternative method that could be used. For example, many studies have been conducted on family businesses, but not every paper uses the same method of measuring family ownership, with some using subjective methods. Alternatively, you could compare studies across different cultural dimensions.

3. Identify the shortcomings, unanswered questions, or areas where you can add value through your research. 4. Formulate a research question or hypothesis that addresses the gap or problem you've identified. 5. Ensure that your question is specific, focused, and re-searchable.

Not so surprisingly, we might not find this section in many thesis or other research papers. This is totally fine in my opinion as long as the gap identified in previous studies is addressed to a measurable extent with the experimentation of the study on hand.

The research question is a narrowed-down version of your research gap. The idea here is to bring the "gap" down to a certain set of variables that could be measurable and to define a relationship. With a thesis being time-bound, topics focusing on aspects like "narcissism" of top-tier executives could be very challenging, considering the validity of measuring a subjective variable. One way could be to look for possible biases in the method of measurement of a variable from a study and to observe the results of the study when the method of measurement is simply changed. One may also look to monitor the effect of moderator or mediator variables. A hypothesis could then be formed, like Z positively moderates the relationship between X & Y.

Here is where one gives direction and context to the research question. From the extant literature, one collects a set of arguments that largely give a funnel shape to the thesis, meaning a more generic outlook at the start to a more narrowed-down version, boiling it down to one's hypothesis. And this is largely an outcome of going along the lines of a theory or a framework, which also helps a reader interpret the findings in the same way as intended. For example, it could be using a VRIO framework when addressing resource-based view theory or arguments along the lines of stewardship theory and socio-emotional wealth for family firms. This then also helps to create a model with the variables in question alongside other control variables.

6. Outline the specific objectives and goals you aim to achieve in your research. 7. Clearly state what you intend to contribute to the field.

8. Describe the research methods and techniques you will employ to address your research question. 9. Explain why your chosen methodology is suitable for your study and how it differs from previous approaches.

10. Collect data according to your chosen methodology. 11. Analyze the data rigorously and present your findings, making sure to highlight any unique insights.