Q: How does a problem statement lend itself to further inquiry on confirming a gap in research?
A problem statement is an expression of the research problem you are studying. In writing the problem statement, you need to talk about the ideal situation, the existing situation, the resolved situation, and how your research will lead to the resolution. Developing the problem statement comes after a detailed review of the existing literature on or around the problem. The literature review reveals gaps, some or all of which you may choose to explore in your study.
It may indeed happen, as you have written, that in the process of developing the problem statement, you may come across some aspects of the problem that need further exploration. (This is a key reason why you should always be updated on the latest literature in your area of study.) You may then decide to investigate further into those aspects through a focused literature review (only of those aspects). This is especially the case where you believe you may not be able to proceed with your research unless you understand those aspects. In some other cases, you may instead choose to restrict the scope of your present study through delimitations, deciding that you will explore those other aspects through a separate study later. Finally, the findings of your study may also uncover gaps that you may wish to explore in a follow-up study.
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