vy v Definitions, Delimitations, and Significance In this chapter I examine aspects of a scholarly study in which the researcher bounds the study: definitions, delimitations and limi- tations, and the significance of the study. Boundaries are necessary in a study to provide direction for the terms used, for the scope of the study, and for the potential audience, Moreover, they represent traditional components of a scholarly study required in graduate student research, In a dissertation or a dissertation proposal, the author typically writes a separate section for each of these compo- nents; in a journal article, definitions and statements about the significance of the study are embedded within the narrative and often are described in the introduction. Delimitations and limitations are addressed in method sections, Although these components 105106 AHSHAREW oF SGM may not he necessary in all en ay ena erie, may wary in atrectual place. meni. and tay not be gwesented within separate selon, ti impor inider eesential decisions for deeigming them in a study THE DEFINITION OF TERMS Researcher define terms to that readers can understand the eon: a ich chew are being odor their unusual or restricted paning (Cantetter & Heisler, 1977). In Chapter 4 1 discussed a need for # brief definition of key variables and concepts that would ‘enable the reader to better understand terms in the study. Now I tocus on # detailed, more elaborate definition that will provide specific guidance for use of terms. Terms to Define ¥ Define terms that individuals outside the field of study may not understend Whether a term should be defined is a matter of yudgment, but one might define a term if there is any question from the audience's perspective. 1 Define terms when they first appear so that a reader does not ead chead in the proposal operating with one set of definitions only to find out later that the author is using a different set. Firestone (1987) stated: ‘The words of everyday language are rich in multiple mean- ings. Like other symbols, their power comes {rom the combination of meaning in a specific setting... - Scientific language ostensibly strips this multiplicity of meaning from ‘words in the interest of precision. This is the reason com ion terms ate given “technical meanings” for scientific pur- poses. (p. 17) afinitians, Detimitations, Signiticanen a ‘With this need for precision, ome finds terms stated eatly in the inteodvetion to articles For dissertations, tems tpcally are defined ina special section ofthe study The eationale is that in a dissertation, students must be precive in how they use language and terms. The need to ground thoughts in authoritative definitions constitutes good selene ¥ Define taems introduced in all seetions of the research plan Consider terms introduced in the following sections the title of the study the problem statement the purpose statement the research questions, hypotheses, of objectives the literature review the theory base of the study the method section ‘Terms in Qualitative and Quantitative Studies ‘Terms are defined in both qualitative and quantitative satis -Y Qualitative studies, because of the inductive, evolving meth ‘odological design, may include few terms defined at the be- {inning ofthe plan; terms may be defined as they emerge from the data collection. In a research plan a writer may advance ‘rentative” definitions because the precise definitions a used ina study will emerge from the conversations with informants ina study, Thus, for example, im an ethnographic sy, themes for perapectives or dimensions} emerge through the data analy, io evathor may want to ella reader that these themes wil te defined one by one as they emerge in the study. This 2P> proach, then, to delay the definition of terms until Sy PFE rrnerrudy, makes a pri: definitions in qualitative sies difficult two Lack cly proposals, For this reason Qualitative propwnalsoiten do at staid orate »TE suai tfeimuon of tees,” but the wHter poses [ener lualiative detinitions tha wll Be wsed prior ENE IBIS o fied sect to gather anformation108 RESEARCH DESIGN V In quantitati it ‘guamtitative sadies, operating more within the deductive oy a of fixed and set research objectives, one finds lens of definitions introduced eaxyin the pan Moreover they a foun in separate scion in research pro- in some detail. The ? eres to define comprehensively all relevant terms mt baa ning of a study and ti init Tieeenet ee ‘0 use accepted definitions found in the No one approach governs how one defines the terms in a study, ne i ; terms in a study, vy Definitions may be written at an abstract or an operational | Operational definitions are written in specific and detailed language absrac definitions, in general language. Because the definition section in a dissertation provides an opportunity a author o be specific about the terms being used in the y, I prefer the operational mr i seudy Unter the operational approach, especially in disse V In writing formal definitions in a je i is i fin journal article or a disserta- tion, use an authoritative reference (with appropriate citation) to define the term. In this way the terms become grounded in the literature. On occasion one may not find an authoritative or scoped seference inthe field for a parcular tex Tn this case provide a definition and use it consistently throughout the plan and the study (Wilkinson, 1991). Y Ione writes definitions into a separate section, the “definition ofterms” or “definitions” section should be written in paragraph form with the term underlined, Typically writers do not in- clude more than two or three pages of definitions. The examples below illustrate acceptable formats for a dissertation proposal. The first example is a quantitative study in education, in which the researcher explored the relationship between Myers- Briggs type and leadership effectiveness of student affairs officers in colleges and universities (Wittstruck, 1986). This example illus- trates the use of a separate definition section and a format for ‘operationally defining the terms in the introduction to a study, The Definitions, Delimitations, Significance 109 second example is a dissertation in sociology that examines quan- titatively how divorce in the middle generation affects grandparents! relationships with their grandchildren (Vernon, 1992}. Vernon in- cludes these definitions within a section on independent variables. This example illustrates the use of more abstract definitions of terms, and terms defined without a specific reference to an author- ity in the literature, Notice, too, in the second example how the author relates the term to prior literature, suggesting not only the importance of the variable but also a relationship that needs to be explored. Example 1. Select Terms Defined Operationally in an Education Disserta- tion in a Separate Section Called “Definitions” Judging is the process of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator {Myers, 1980). ‘Leadership effectiveness, indicated by scores on the Leader- ship Style Perception Instrument, is the ability of individuals to adapt their leader behaviors so that they are appropriate to the needs of the given situation (Hersey & Blanchard, 1982c). {Wittstruck, 1986, p. 7} Example 2. Select Terms Abstractly Defined in an “Independent Variables Section in a Sociology Dissertation Kinship Relationship to the Grandchild Kinship relationship to the grandchild refers to whether the grandparents are maternal grandparents or paternal grandpat- ents. Previous research (e.g., Cherlin & Furstenberg, 1986) suggests that maternal grandparents tend to be closer to their grandchildren. Sex of Grandparent Whether a grandparent is a grandmother or grandfather has been found to be a factor in the grandparentigrandchild110 RESEARCH DESIGN relationship (ic., grandmothers ti others tend to be more involv thn anit WA htt ele othe Tinkeey is women within the fa a ee 1 family (e.g, Hagestad, 1988). DELIMITATIONS AND LIMITATIONS Another parameter for a research study establishes the bounda- iss, exceptions, reservations, and qualifications inherent in every study: delimitations and limitations (Castetter & Heisles, 197). It is found in both qualitative and quantitative studies. ¥ Use delimitations to address how the study will be narrowed imitations to identify potential weaknesses of the In journal articles these points are often incorporated into the method section. In proposals, either qualitative or quantitative, they ar included as separate sections. Doctoral committees vary in the exent to which they require these sections. The following exam- ple, taken from dissertation proposal in nursing (Kunes, 1991), ‘luserates delimitetions and limitations. The first, the delimitations, suggests how the study will be narrowed in scope. The second, a Inmisstion, indicates 2 potential weakness in the design of the sxady. Bock points were included in the introduction to the proposal. Example 3. 4 Delimitation and a Limitation A delimitation: to interviewing and ob- Initially, chis study will confine itself ‘a Midwest private psychi- serving the psychiatric staff nurse in atric hospital. Definitions, Delimitations, Significance m A limitation decreases the generalizability ‘The purposive sampling, proce be genetalizable to all areas of of findings, This study will not nursing, A limitation: In this qualitative study, the findings could be subject to other interpretations. (Kunes, 1991, pp. 21-22) In terms of format the delimitations and weaknesses typically are addressed in the method section in a scholarly journal article. Ina dissertation they often are incorporated into a separate section titled “Delimitations and Limitations.” SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY In dissertations a writer often includes a specific section describ- ing the significance of the study for select audiences. In this section the writer creates a clear rationale for the importance of the study. Itshould expand on the “audience” point made in the introduction, in which the writer briefly mentions the problem leading to the study in light of the needs of a specific audience. Here, however the writer can elaborate on the significance for researchers, practition nets, and policymakers. In designing this section, one might include: eee ——_—_—— three or four reasons why the study adds to the scholarly research and literatuze in the field three of four reasons about how the study helps improve practice -e of four reasons why the study will improve policy thre: oS ———412 RESEARCH DESIGN In the example to follow, the author states the significance of the study in the opening paragraphs of the journal article. This study, by Mascarenhas (1989), examined ownership of industrial firms Decision makers, organizational members, and researchers were identified explicitly as the “audience” who would find the study useful Example 4. Significance of the Study Stated in an Introduction toa Quan- titative Study A study of an organization’s ownership and its domain, defined here as markets served, product scope, customer orientation, and technology employed (Abell and Hammond, 1979; Abell, 1980; Perry and Rainey, 1988) is important for several reasons. First, understanding relationships among ownership and do- main dimensions can help to reveal the underlying logic of organizations’ activities and can help organization members evaluate strategies. . .. Second, a fundamental decision con- fronting all societies conceras the type of institutions to en- courage or adopt for the conduct of activity. . . Knowledge of the domain consequences of different ownership types can serve as input to that decision... . Third, researchers have often stud- ied organizations reflecting one or two ownership types, but their findings may have been implicitly overgeneralized to all organizations. (Mascarenhas, 1989, p. 582)