LECTURE 7: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study is a section in the introduction of your thesis or paper. It's purpose
is to make clear why your study was needed and the specific contribution your research made to
furthering academic knowledge in your field

The purpose of research is to inform action. Thus, your study should seek to contextualize its findings within
the larger body of research. Research must always be of high quality in order to produce knowledge that is
applicable outside of the research setting. Furthermore, the results of your study may have implications for
policy and future project implementation.”

In response to this TweetChat question, Twitter user @aemidr shared that the “dissemination of the research
outcomes” is their contribution. Petra Boynton expressed a contribution of “easy to follow resources other
people can use to help improve their health/wellbeing”.

Eric Schmieder said, “In general, I try to expand the application of technology to improve the efficiency of
business processes through my research and personal use and development of technology solutions.” While
Janet Salmons offered the response, “I am a metaresearcher, that is, I research emerging qualitative methods &
write about them. I hope contribution helps student & experienced researchers try new approaches.”

Despite the different contributions each of these participants noted as the significance of their individual
research efforts, there is a significance to each. In addition to the importance stated through the above
examples, Leann Zarah offered 7 Reasons Why Research Is Important, as follows:

1. A Tool for Building Knowledge and for Facilitating Learning

2. Means to Understand Various Issues and Increase Public Awareness
3. An Aid to Business Success
4. A Way to Prove Lies and to Support Truths
5. Means to Find, Gauge, and Seize Opportunities
6. A Seed to Love Reading, Writing, Analyzing, and Sharing Valuable Information
7. Nourishment and Exercise for the Mind

Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study

Here are the tips that may be helpful when writing the significance of the study. These tips will tell
you the basic components expected to be seen in the significance of the study content.

1. Refer to the Problem Statement

In writing the significance of the study, always refer to the statement of the problem. This way, you
can clearly define the contribution of your study. To simplify, your research should answer this
question, “What are the benefits or advantages of the study based on the statement of the problem?”

If you ask the question “How has the new packaging affected the sales of the product?” then the
contribution of your research would probably a packaging style or technology that can help the store

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increase its sales. Your study should demonstrate that the product’s packaging really influences the
buyer’s perception and affects their purchase decision.

2. Write it from General to Particular

Determine the specific contribution of your thesis study to society as well as to the individual. Write
it deductively, starting from general to specific. Start your significance of the study broadly then
narrowing it out to a specific group or person. This is done by looking into the general contribution
of your study, such as its importance to society as a whole, then move towards its contribution to
individuals as yourself as a researcher.

What Is Scope and Delimitation in Research? ... The scope details how in-depth your study is
to explore the research question and the parameters in which it will operate in relation to the
population and timeframe.

What Is Scope and Delimitation in Research?

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

The scope details how in-depth your study is to explore the research 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 investigation.
In other words, they are the boundaries the researcher sets in terms of study duration, population
size and type of participants, etc.

Difference Between Delimitations and Limitations

Delimitations refer to the boundaries of the research study, based on the researcher’s decision of
what to include and what to exclude. They narrow your study to make it more manageable and
relevant to what you are trying to prove.

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 research findings.
Because of this, they determine the internal and external validity of your study and are
considered potential weaknesses.

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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 Scope

A good scope statement will answer the following six questions:

 Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research.

 What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables.

 Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to
which entity the data will belong.

 When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected.

 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 generalizations.

 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.

Guidelines on How to Write Delimitations

Since the delimitation parameters are within the researcher’s control, readers need to know why
they were set, what alternative options were available, and why these alternatives were rejected.
For example, if you are collecting data that can be derived from three different but similar
experiments, the reader needs to understand how and why you decided to select the one you
have.

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Your reasons should always be linked back to your research question, as all delimitations should
result from trying to make your study more relevant to your scope. Therefore, the scope and
delimitations are usually considered together when writing a paper.

How to Start Writing Your Study Delimitations

Use the below prompts as an effective way to start writing your study delimitations:

 This study does not cover…

 This study is limited to…

 The following has been excluded from this study…

Examples of Delimitation in Research

Examples of delimitations include:

 research objectives,

 research questions,

 research variables,

 target populations,

 statistical analysis techniques.

Examples of Limitations in Research

Examples of limitations include:

 Issues with sample and selection,

 Insufficient sample size, population traits or specific participants for statistical

significance,

 Lack of previous research studies on the topic which has allowed for further analysis,

 Limitations in the technology/instruments used to collect your data,

 Limited financial resources and/or funding constraints.