The Scope and Limitations of

the Study; The Definition of

Terms
Kim Sharlyn D. Joaquin
MPA Fiscal Administration
GPU 714

The Scope and Limitations of the

Study
SCOPE
Refers to the parameters under which the study will be operating. The problem
you seek to resolve will fit within certain parameters.

LIMITATIONS
Matters and occurrences that arise in a study which are out of the researchers
control. They limit the extensity to which a study can go, and sometimes affect
the end result and conclusions that can be drawn.

The Scope and Limitations of the

Study
Limitations of Qualitative Studies
A limitation associated with qualitative study is related to validity and reliability.

Limitations of Case Studies

It is always unclear about the generality of the findings of a case study.

Limitations of Correlational Studies

Correlational research merely demonstrates that researchers can predict the
behavior of one variable from the behavior of another variable.

Limitations of Randomized Experiments

Generality of the findings. It may have involve a specific group of people, certain
situations, and only some of the possible conceptualizations of variables.

The Scope and Limitations of the

Study
Limitations of Survey Instruments
Surveys often suffer the limitation of forcing respondents into particular response
categories, thereby limiting the range of responses.

DELIMITATION
Characteristics that arise from limitations in the scope of study and by the
conscious exclusionary and inclusionary decisions made during the development
of the study plan.

Guidelines in writing the Scope and

Delimitation
1. A brief statement of the general purpose of the study.
2. The subject matter and topics studied and discussed.
3. The locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the
data belong.
4. The population or universe from which the respondents were selected.
5. The period of the study.

Example: This investigation was conducted to determine the status of the teaching of
science in the high schools of Province A as perceived by the teachers and students
in science classes during the school year 1989-1990. The aspects looked into were
the qualifications of teachers, their methods and strategies, facilities, forms of
supervisory assistance, problems and proposed solutions to problems.

General purpose: To determine the status of the teaching of science.

Subject matter: The teaching of science.
Topics (aspects) studied: Qualifications of teachers. Their methods and strategies,
facilities, form of supervisory assistance, problems and proposed solutions to the
problems.
Population or universe: teachers and students
Locale of the study: High schools of province A
Period of the study: School year 1989-1990.

The Definition of Terms

Two types of Definition of Terms
1. Conceptual meaning
2. Operational meaning

GUIDELINES IN DEFINING TERMS

1. Only terms, words, or phrases which have special or unique meanings in
the study are defined.
2. Terms should be defined operationally, that is how they are used in the
study.
3. The researcher may develop his own definition from the characteristics of
the term defined.

4. Definitions may be taken from encyclopedias, books, magazines and

newspaper articles, dictionaries, and other publications but the researcher
must acknowledge his sources.
5. Definitions should a\be brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible.
6. Acronyms should always be spelled out fully especially if it is not
commonly known or if it is used for the first time

SOURCES
Globio, E. (2010). Thesis Writing: The Scope and Limitation of the Study. Retrieved 13 July
2016 from http://thesisadviser.blogspot.com/2013/02/thesis-writing-scope-and-limitationof.html
Aguinis, Hermam and Jeffrey R. Edwards. Methodological Wishes for the Next Decade and
How to Make Wishes Come True.Journal of Management Studies51 (January 2014): 143174
Brutus, Stphane et al. "Self-Reported Limitations and Future Directions in Scholarly Reports:
Analysis and Recommendations."Journal of Management39 (January 2013): 48-75
Senunyeme, Emmanuel K.Business Research Methods. Powerpoint Presentation. Regent
University of Science and Technology
ter Riet, Gerben et al. All That Glitters Isn't Gold: A Survey on Acknowledgment of
Limitations in Biomedical Studies.PLOS One8 (November 2013): 1-6
Price, James H. and Judy Murnan. Research Limitations and the Necessity of Reporting
Them.American Journal of Health Education35 (2004): 66-67;
Structure: How to Structure the Research Limitations Section of Your Dissertation.
Dissertations and Theses: An Online Textbook. Laerd.com.