Literature Mapping and Gap Analysis for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Tools and Templates
A clear, systematic approach to literature mapping and gap analysis transforms piles of readings into a strategic research plan. This guide shows you how to map existing knowledge, identify meaningful gaps, and turn gaps into dissertation/essay research questions — with practical tools, ready-to-use templates, and workflows tailored for dissertations, essays and assignments.
Why literature mapping + gap analysis matters
- Helps locate your original contribution quickly.
- Focuses search and saves time during data collection and write-up.
- Strengthens your literature review by highlighting contradictions and understudied areas.
- Provides evidence-based justification for research questions, objectives or hypotheses.
This article covers a stepwise workflow, recommended tools, downloadable-style templates (as Markdown-ready tables), and examples so you can apply the method immediately.
Stepwise workflow: from mapping to research question
-
Define scope and keywords
Use your topic, population, timeframe, and study types. See strategies in Efficient Search Strategies for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Databases, Grey Literature and Alerts. -
Collect and organise sources
Use reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley) and screening tools (Rayyan) to build your corpus. If doing a systematic approach, follow protocols in How to Write a Systematic Literature Review for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Protocols and Examples. -
Create a literature map (matrix or concept map)
Extract key metadata, methods, findings, and limitations into a literature mapping table (template below) or visual map. For visual approaches, see Using Conceptual Model Diagrams to Strengthen Your Dissertation, Essay and Assignment Literature Review. -
Synthesize and code concepts
Group studies by theme, method or outcome. For methods of synthesis, consult Thematic and Narrative Synthesis Techniques for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: From Codes to Concepts. -
Identify gaps and prioritise
Convert mapping outputs into a gap analysis table and rank by novelty, feasibility, and impact. -
Formulate research questions
Translate priority gaps into focused questions, objectives or testable hypotheses. For help structuring the literature review chapter, see Referencing vs. Reviewing: Structuring a Literature Review Chapter for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments.
Literature mapping template (practical table)
Use this matrix to extract and compare studies. Copy into Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or a Word table.
| Author (Year) | Study type / Design | Population / Sample | Methods | Key findings | Strengths / Limitations | Relevance to my topic | Identified gaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith, 2020 | RCT | 200 adults | Questionnaire + intervention | Intervention reduced X by 30% | Strong design; short follow-up | Directly relevant | No long-term follow-up; narrow age range |
Tips:
- Keep rows short; add a separate document for detailed notes.
- Use tags or colour-coding for themes and methods.
- Add a column for “Confidence / Evidence level” if you are weighting studies.
Gap analysis template (prioritise what matters)
After mapping, summarise gaps using this table.
| Gap description | Evidence level (strong/moderate/weak) | Why it matters (impact) | Feasibility (high/medium/low) | Priority (1–3) | Suggested research question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lack of longitudinal studies on X | Weak | Limits understanding of long-term effects | Medium | 1 | How does X change over 12 months in Y population? |
Use Priority = 1 (high), 2 (moderate), 3 (low).
Recommended tools — quick comparison
| Purpose | Tools | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Reference management | Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote | Automated citations, foldering, PDF storage |
| Screening & collaboration | Rayyan, Covidence | Fast title/abstract screening, conflict resolution |
| Qualitative coding & synthesis | NVivo, MAXQDA | Code management, visual queries |
| Visual mapping | Connected Papers, VOSviewer, MindMeister | Citation/keyword networks, concept maps |
| Diagramming | Lucidchart, Draw.io | Build conceptual models, flowcharts |
| Project tracking | Notion, Airtable, Trello | Templates, database views, collaboration |
Why these matter: choose a combination (e.g., Zotero + NVivo + MindMeister) that fits your method (systematic vs. narrative). If unsure which review approach suits you, read Systematic Review vs. Traditional Review: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Dissertation, Essay or Assignment.
Best practices and common pitfalls
Best practices
- Be explicit about scope (dates, languages, study types).
- Record search strategy and decisions — crucial for reproducibility.
- Synthesize critically — don't just summarise; interpret and compare (see Critical Synthesis: Turning Sources into Argument for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments).
- Triangulate evidence from quantitative, qualitative and grey literature.
Common pitfalls
- Mapping too many low-relevance studies — prune using inclusion criteria.
- Confusing citation volume with evidence strength — use quality appraisal.
- Ignoring conflicting evidence — see strategies in Integrating Conflicting Evidence in Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Strategies for Balanced Synthesis.
From gap to chapter: turning analysis into structure
- Use your gap table to shape chapter subsections: broad theme → evidence summary → gap statement → proposed study.
- A strong literature review ends with a clear statement: “Existing studies show A and B, but there is limited evidence on C; therefore this study asks…”
- If you need help with conceptual framing, consult Building a Conceptual Framework for Your Dissertation, Essay or Assignment: Stepwise Approach.
Quick checklist before you write
- Scope and search strategy documented
- Literature mapped in matrix and/or visual map
- Gaps identified and prioritised
- Research question/objectives aligned with highest-priority gap
- Plan for synthesis method (thematic, narrative, meta-analysis)
Need step-by-step examples for synthesis? See Thematic and Narrative Synthesis Techniques for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: From Codes to Concepts.
Contact us — help with writing, proofreading and mapping
If you need assistance with literature mapping, gap analysis, writing or proofreading your dissertation, essay or assignment, MzansiWriters can help. Contact us via:
- The WhatsApp icon on this page,
- Email: info@mzansiwriters.co.za, or
- The Contact Us page in the main menu.
For related guides and deeper methodological examples, explore:
- How to Write a Systematic Literature Review for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Protocols and Examples
- Efficient Search Strategies for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments: Databases, Grey Literature and Alerts
- Referencing vs. Reviewing: Structuring a Literature Review Chapter for Dissertations, Essays and Assignments
Start your mapping today: export a CSV of your top 20 sources, paste into the literature mapping table above, and identify 3 candidate gaps to prioritise. If you’d like, contact us and we’ll review your matrix and suggest focused research questions.