For students and researchers, determining a research topic is often a major challenge. Frequently, studies end up repeating what has already been done. According to Dr. drg. Dibyo Pramono, S.U., MDSc, the key lies in identifying the research gap so that a study brings novelty.
He conveyed this point during the Training of Trainer (ToT) on Publication Clinic Mentorship held on Thursday, 24 July 2025. According to him, good research emerges from a researcher’s ability to identify gaps in existing knowledge.
"Research gap is an unanswered question or an unsolved problem in a particular field of science,” explained Drg. Dibyo in his presentation. He likened a research gap to a missing puzzle piece that needs to be found by the researcher.
He emphasized that the first step for a researcher is to explore topics in order to find a sharp focus. For example, instead of studying periodontal disease in general, a researcher could narrow the scope to a specific population such as pregnant women, the elderly, or risk factors such as smoking and diabetes mellitus.
Exploring the Right Research Gap .
Drg. Dibyo outlined several types of research gaps that can be explored. One of the most popular among students for theses or dissertations is the contextual gap. "A Contextual Gap occurs when a theory or method has been proven in one context, but may not apply in another,” he explained.
He provided a simple and relatable example: “For instance, the Bass toothbrushing technique has been proven effective for the general population. But is this method equally effective for children with special needs? That question represents a research gap,” he elaborated.
Once a gap has been identified, researchers can formulate a strong background, research question, and objectives. To sharpen the research question, Drg. Dibyo also introduced the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) , which is particularly useful for clinical and experimental studies.
By identifying research gapresearch gaps, Drg. Dibyo hopes that research outputs, particularly in dentistry, will no longer be repetitive. “Ultimately, research should aim to provide innovative solutions and real benefits for society,” he concluded.
Author and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
