Understanding Scope and Delimitation in Research

The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or research paper define the topic and boundaries of the ______ problem to be investigated.

The scope details how in-depth your study is to explore the ______ question and the parameters in which it will operate in relation to the population and timeframe.

The delimitations of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in the ______.

Delimitations refer to the boundaries of the research study, based on the researcher’s decision of what to ______ and what to exclude.

Limitations relate to the validity and reliability of the study. They are characteristics of the research design or methodology that are out of your control but influence your ______ findings.

Because of this, limitations determine the internal and external validity of your study and are considered potential ______.

This study is to focus on… ______

This study is limited to… ______

This study aims to… ______

The following has been excluded from this study… ______

This study covers the… ______

This study does not cover… ______

In other words, limitations are what the researcher cannot do (elements outside of their control) and delimitations are what the researcher will not do (elements outside of the boundaries they have set). Both are important because they help to put the research findings into context, and although they explain how the study is limited, they increase the credibility and validity of a research project. Guidelines on How to Write a ______ A good scope statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and whether this was because it was a delimitation or a limitation.

A good ______ statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research ______, and whether this was because it was a delimitation or a limitation.

A good scope statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and whether this was because it was a ______ or a limitation.

A good scope statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and whether this was because it was a delimitation or a ______.

Guidelines on How to Write a Scope A good ______ statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and whether this was because it was a delimitation or a limitation.

Guidelines on How to Write a Scope A good scope statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research ______, and whether this was because it was a delimitation or a limitation.

Guidelines on How to Write a Scope A good scope statement will answer the following six questions: 1. Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research. 2. What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables. 3. Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the data will belong. 4. When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected. 5. Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population needs to be large enough to be able to make generalisations. 6. How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis techniques. To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and whether this was because it was a ______ or a limitation.