Scope of the Study:
This section defines the boundaries of your research in terms of:
* Subject Matter: Specifically what topics or phenomena will be investigated? Be precise. For example, instead of "the effects of social media," you might say "the effects of Instagram use on body image among adolescent girls aged 13-15 in urban areas of [City/Region]."
* Geographic Area: Where will the research take place? Is it a specific city, region, country, or even a specific organization?
* Population/Sample: Who are the participants or subjects of the study? Specify demographics, characteristics, and the sampling method used.
* Time Frame: What period will the research cover? Will it be a snapshot in time, or a longitudinal study?
* Variables: What specific factors will be measured or analyzed? Clearly define your independent and dependent variables.
* Methods: Briefly describe the research methods employed (e.g., quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, experimental design, case studies). This provides context for the limitations.
Delimitations of the Study:
This section explicitly states the *choices* made to narrow the focus of the research. It acknowledges the boundaries intentionally set by the researcher, explaining why certain aspects were excluded. These are *not* weaknesses or limitations; they are conscious decisions. Examples include:
* Specific Theoretical Framework: Did you choose to focus on a specific theory and exclude others? Explain why.
* Exclusion Criteria: Did you exclude certain participants or data points? Explain why (e.g., age, location, specific pre-existing conditions).
* Data Collection Methods: Did you choose one method over another (e.g., surveys over interviews)? Explain your rationale.
* Limited Resources: Acknowledge limitations due to time constraints, budget, access to data, or other resources. This is honest and realistic.
* Geographic Limitations: If your study is limited geographically, explain why you didn't expand to other areas.
* Temporal Limitations: Explain if the study is limited to a specific time period and why a longer time frame wasn't feasible.
Example:
Let's say your project investigates the effectiveness of a new teaching method.
Scope: This study will investigate the effectiveness of the "Project-Based Learning" (PBL) teaching method on student achievement in 8th-grade mathematics at Northwood Middle School during the 2024-2025 academic year. Data will be collected using pre- and post-tests measuring students' understanding of key mathematical concepts, and analyzed using paired t-tests. The sample will consist of two 8th-grade math classes (approximately 50 students), one taught using PBL and the other using traditional lecture methods.
Delimitations: This study will only focus on 8th-grade mathematics and will not examine the effectiveness of PBL in other subjects or grade levels. The study is limited to Northwood Middle School and may not be generalizable to other schools or populations. Furthermore, the study only considers student achievement as measured by pre- and post-tests and does not explore other potential outcomes such as student engagement or attitudes towards mathematics. The use of only pre- and post-tests limits the depth of qualitative data regarding student learning processes.
In essence, the scope outlines *what* your research covers, while the delimitations explain *what it does not* and *why*. Both are essential for establishing the credibility and validity of your research.