ENGL 2010
Identifying & Filling Gaps

GAPS IN YOUR MATRIX

There’s a high chance that you have “gaps” or spaces on your synthesis matrix right now. Every source won’t address every main idea, so that’s to be expected. A few empty spaces throughout your matrix usually means that your essay will be a balanced conversation between your own voice and your sources.

LARGE GAPS IN YOUR MATRIX

When your research matrix has gaps of multiple blank boxes across a row, this lets you know where you need to do more research for that main idea. You will often see a large gap like this when only one of your sources is discussing one of your main ideas. This shows a possible weak point in your paper.

When you first began the research process, your searches often broadly covered your entire research question. At this stage of your research, you can focus your efforts on strengthening weaker areas of your argument, and luckily you have your research matrix to help!

Matrix with large gap in a row where only 1 source is discussing a main idea

 

FOCUS TO FILL YOUR GAPS

FIND

Find significant gaps in your research. Your research matrix takes the guesswork out of finding gaps and allows you to visualize where your argument is lacking. Look for gaps along the rows of your matrix. (It's okay if there are gaps down columns.) Make sure to also look through your represented perspectives to identify missing voices.

Matrix with large gap in one row with only one source addressing a main idea

OBSERVE

Observe how you and your sources discuss the main idea. Take a moment to read through your main idea and the content from your sources. Are there keywords that you could try in future searches? Are there perspectives that are missing?

Highlighted keywords in the matrix including stress, intersectional identity, LGBTQ+ college students of color, predominately white institutions, racial microaggressions, and white privilege.

CREATE

Create a list of keywords to use in future searches. Make sure you are using keywords that will find new sources that bring something new to this shared conversation. Your list of keywords could include specific words you or your source used, specific groups that could be impacted, and opposing viewpoints. Your matrix has provided you with the language needed to find more sources.

Keywords

stress

intersectional identity

LGBTQ+ 

bisexual students

transgender students

lesbian students

college students of color

predominately white institutions

racial microaggressions

white privilege

latinx

racism

USE AND UNCOVER

Use and Uncover keywords in the search engine of your choice. Conduct a search using some of your keywords in a database like ProQuest Central. You can access library databases by going to the USU Library homepage, and under Find select Articles and Databases to access ProQuest Central or browse other databases. 

Screenshot of a search for "stress and LGBTQIA+ college students and latinx" in the database Proquest Central

 

Use this as an opportunity to uncover new information about your topic and main idea! Remember you are looking for sources that bring new perspectives and insights, not echo the ones you already have.

Screenshot of an academic article called "Social challenges faced by queer Latino college men: Navigaating negative responses to coming out in a double minority sample of emerging adults" with red boxes around the phrases "social challenges," "queer Latino college men," and "negative responses to coming out"

SYNTHESIZE

Synthesize your new information. After you’ve found a viable source, look at it alongside your matrix. Does it fit within the conversation? Is it bringing something new to the conversation? How does it change your own thoughts on the main idea?

The blue underline and yellow italics highlights below show where our new source can be put into conversation with our existing source.

Source 1

Title: Heterosexism, Depression, and Campus Engagement Among LGBTQ College Students: Intersectional Differences and Opportunities for Healing

Author's Name: Alex Kulick, et al.

New Source

Title: Social Challenges Faced by Queer Latino College Men: Navigating Negative Responses to Coming out in a Double Minority Sample of Emerging Adults.

Author's Name: Asia A. Eaton & Desdamona Rios

Main Idea

How stress can compound with intersectional identity
For LGBTQ+ college students of color, messages communicating exclusion along with racist beliefs and practices signal that students of color do not belong at predominantly white institutions. (1132)

White students experience fewer racial microaggressions than students of color due to pervasive White privilege (1136)

Latinx LGBTQ+ students experienced invisibility at the intersection of culture and sexual orientation while having to navigate mainstream American culture with friends, Latino American culture with family, and for some participants, Latin cultures abroad. (462)

"Cultural values and multiple group memberships interact to produce unique experiences of sexual identity navigation and disclosure among queer, Latino college men.” (464).

YOUR TURN

Using your filled-out research matrix, take some time to identify and fill any gaps you see.

DON'T FORGET TO FOCUS

Find

Observe

Create

Use and Uncover

Synthesize

QUICK CHECK

When identifying gaps in your research, it is important to FOCUS. Which aspect(s) of FOCUS will help you identify if there are perspectives missing in your research?

Use & Uncover

Not quite. Use and Uncover will help you in your search of sources to fill gaps that you have already identified.

Create

Not quite. When you are at the create stage, you should have already identified a perspective that is missing.

Find and Observe

Correct! To better understand gaps in perspectives you will need to visually find the gap and also observe what perspectives are represented or missing in your sources.

Find

Almost! Find will help you begin to see a gap, but you will need to go a little further to better understand how well various perspectives are being represented.

Check Answer