Scope and Limitation

This section has two parts. The first comprises the scope of the study. In discussing the scope, you must cover the following (what, how, who, where, when):

·      Conceptual scope: reiterate the concepts that are under study and the context and perspective in which they are going to be examined (what);

·      Methodological scope: includes the following:

o   The type of data you are collecting and the methods you are using to gather data (how);

o   The inclusion criteria/characteristics of participants (who);

o   The sample size and the geographic location/s in which the sample is found (where);

o   The duration of the time when the study will be/was conducted (when).

In discussing the limitations, you must cover the following:

·      Conceptual limitation: which concepts within the theory or field of study are you not going to be focusing on the study (what);

·      Methodological limitations:

o   Pertinent data that you will not be able to collect, and other methods you will not be able to use (how);

o   The exclusion criteria of the participants, and any sampling issues that can decrease the external validity and representativeness of the findings (who);

o   Control measures that was not achieved by the study;

o   Any threat to objectivity, internal validity; any form of biases;

o   Methodological requirements that were not met.

Note 1: This section is scope and limitation (NOT delimitation, which is also addressed by the scope subsection).

Note 2: Writing the scope and limitation is an exercise of honesty and disclosure for the researcher to help the reader draw insights from and carefully utilize the findings. This is NOT a safety net for researchers to get away with uncorrected biases, faulty study design, poor rigor, small sample size and lack of objectivity— especially when it is not impossible for the researcher to address these issues in the design and conduct of the study.

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