DELIMITATIONS

INTRODUCTION:
Delimitations are boundaries that are set by the researcher in order to control the range of a
study. They are created before any investigations are carried out in order to reduce the amount of
time or effort spent in certain unnecessary, and perhaps even unrelated, areas to the overall study.

On the other hand, limitation refers to challenges faced by the researcher beyond his control.

In qualitative research certain limitations might mean that the findings cannot be generalized to
the larger population. This is especially true when the definition of the population is broad (ex:
elderly women)

Delimitations are choices made by the researcher which should be mentioned. They describe the
boundaries that you have set for the study. This is the place to explain:

 the things that you are not doing (and why you have chosen not to do them).
 the literature you will not review (and why not).
 the population you are not studying (and why not).
 the methodological procedures you will not use (and why you will not use them).
Limit your delimitations to the things that a reader might reasonably expect you 

DEFINITION:
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.
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.

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 generalisations.

 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.

HOW TO START WRITING YOUR STUDY SCOPE

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

 This study is to focus on…

 This study covers the…

 This study aims to…

EXAMPLES OF DELIMITATION IN RESEARCH

Examples of delimitations include:

 research objectives,
 research questions,

 research variables,

 target populations,

CONCLUSIONS:
Serious rethinking and restructuring of the global nursing and biomedical research agenda is
necessary to upgrade the profession and reassure the public. Authors should report their research
limitations, delimitations and assumptions in order to improve the quality of their findings and
the interpretation of the evidence presented. On the contrary, when any of these key elements are
neglected, overlooked or hushed, the study kudos is jeopardised. However, when a solid study
elaborates on its limitations, delimitations and assumptions, it is more likely to be cited and may
also act as a benchmark for future nursing research endeavors.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 “SURESH K SHARMA”, ‘NURSING RESEARCH AND
STATISTICS’ SECOND EDITION 2014 PUBLISHED BY INDEA
PVT. LIMITED . PAGE NO151
 HTTP.WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM.
 HTTP.WWW.ENCYCLOPEDIA.COM.
 “SURESH K SHARMA”, ‘NURSING RESEARCH AND
STATISTICS’ SECOND EDITION 2014 PUBLISHED BY INDEA
PVT. LIMITED . PAGE NO151