REF#1

Scope and limitations of the Study

Guidelines in writing the scope and delimitation. The scope and delimitation should include the following:

1. A brief statement of the general purpose of the study.

2. The subject matter and topics studied and discussed.
3. The locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the data belong.
4. The population or universe from which the respondents were selected. This must be large enough to make
generalizations significant.
5. The period of the study. This is the time, either months or years, during which the data were gathered.
Example: This investigation was conducted to determine the status of the teaching of science in the high
schools of Province A as perceived by the teachers and students in science classes during the school year 1989-
1990. the aspects looked into were the qualifications of teachers, their methods and strategies, facilities forms
of supervisory assistance, problems and proposed solutions to problems.

General purpose: To determine the status of the teaching of science.

Subject matter: The teaching of science.
Topics (aspects) studied: Qualifications of teachers. Their methods and strategies, facilities, form of supervisory
assistance, problems and proposed solutions to the problems.
Population or universe: teachers and students
Locale of the study: High schools of province A.
Period of the study: School year 1989-1990.

REF#2

Importance of writing the Scope and Delimitations of

your study
A different level of detail is required for different sections of a research paper or different chapters of a thesis. For
example, the Materials and Methods section of a research paper or thesis would describe what was done and how it
was done in substantial detail. However, in addition to providing detailed information where relevant, it is important to
state the broader parameters and boundaries of the research. This forms the scope and delimitations of a study and helps
to contextualise the research for the reader so they can better anticipate the extent of the details to come.

Scope explained
The main purpose of stating the scope of the study is to set the context early on so that readers can interpret
the results and discussions with the given context in mind.

The scope of the study is given in broad terms and identifies any of the following elements:

Element Examples
 A study carried out in winter
 A study carried out over five years
Area or region
 A study carried out in a lab

Population  Adults between 41 and 60 years old

 A given species of insects
  A given species of bacteria

 A pilot study as a prelude to a more detailed study

Objectives  A rapid survey to plan a more detailed survey

Delimitations explained
You could think of delimitations as EITHER of the following:

 Stating what was not done

 A more detailed and variant exposition of the scope, which is expressed in terms of exclusion rather than
inclusion – i.e. a description of what is not included or considered or studied within the given piece of research

Some examples of delimitations are:

Type of Study Example of Delimitation

Questionnaire survey Incomplete or illegible forms were discarded.
Participants who had been residents in the chosen area for less than one year were
Interview
excluded.
Experiment Samples with impurities amounting to more than 0.1% by weight were not analysed.

Importance of stating scope and delimitations

 Clarifying the scope and delimitations of a study is helpful for interpreting the results because the results are
influenced by the scope and materials (delimitations). For instance, agricultural field experiments conducted
under irrigated conditions can give very different results from the experiments conducted without irrigation.
 Scope and delimitations also help to make the study more replicable by specifying what was excluded. For
example, in the example mentioned earlier for delimitations, the results can be very different if samples with
greater impurities are not discarded.
 In the field of medicine, the gender bias is becoming increasingly evident, which is why it is becoming important
to state – even when a sample of subjects was selected at random – the proportion of men and women in the
sample.

Writing the scope and delimitations in the paper

Considering that it is given in broader terms, the scope can form part of the Introduction, whereas delimitations, being
more detailed, rightfully belong to the Methods section.

Delimitations vs. limitations

Finally, note that delimitations of a study are different from its limitations: the latter can be thought of as shortcomings,
typically mentioned to address in anticipation any objections from the reviewers of a manuscript. (Learn more about
limitations here: How to write the Limitations of your research)

End note
The above explanation and examples should convince you of the need to include scope and delimitations while writing a
research paper, a thesis or even a research proposal. Do not hesitate to include them because if you do not point them
out, somebody else will!

Importance of writing the Scope and Delimitations of your study

A different level of detail is required for different sections of a research paper or different chapters of a thesis. For example,
the Materials and Methods section of a research paper or thesis would describe what was done and how it was done in substantial
detail. However, in addition to providing detailed information where relevant, it is important to state the broader parameters and
boundaries of the research. This forms the scope and delimitations of a study and helps to contextualise the research for the reader
so they can better anticipate the extent of the details to come.

Scope explained
The main purpose of stating the scope of the study is to set the context early on so that readers can interpret
the results and discussions with the given context in mind.
The scope of the study is given in broad terms and identifies any of the following elements:
Element Examples
 A study carried out in winter
A study carried out over five years
Area or region
A study carried out in a lab

Adults between 41 and 60 years old

A given species of insects
Population
A given species of bacteria

A pilot study as a prelude to a more detailed study

Objectives A rapid survey to plan a more detailed survey

Delimitations explained
You could think of delimitations as EITHER of the following:

 Stating what was not done

 A more detailed and variant exposition of the scope, which is expressed in terms of exclusion rather than inclusion – i.e. a description
of what is not included or considered or studied within the given piece of research

Some examples of delimitations are:

Type of Study Example of Delimitation
Questionnaire survey Incomplete or illegible forms were discarded.
Participants who had been residents in the chosen area for
Interview
less than one year were excluded.
Samples with impurities amounting to more than 0.1% by
Experiment
weight were not analysed.

Importance of stating scope and delimitations

 Clarifying the scope and delimitations of a study is helpful for interpreting the results because the results are influenced by the scope
and materials (delimitations). For instance, agricultural field experiments conducted under irrigated conditions can give very different
results from the experiments conducted without irrigation.
 Scope and delimitations also help to make the study more replicable by specifying what was excluded. For example, in the example
mentioned earlier for delimitations, the results can be very different if samples with greater impurities are not discarded.
 In the field of medicine, the gender bias is becoming increasingly evident, which is why it is becoming important to state – even when
a sample of subjects was selected at random – the proportion of men and women in the sample.

Writing the scope and delimitations in the paper

Considering that it is given in broader terms, the scope can form part of the Introduction, whereas delimitations, being more detailed,
rightfully belong to the Methods section.

Delimitations vs. limitations

Finally, note that delimitations of a study are different from its limitations: the latter can be thought of as shortcomings, typically
mentioned to address in anticipation any objections from the reviewers of a manuscript. (Learn more about limitations here: How to
write the Limitations of your research)

End note
The above explanation and examples should convince you of the need to include scope and delimitations while writing a research
paper, a thesis or even a research proposal. Do not hesitate to include them because if you do not point them out, somebody else
will!

REF#3

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.

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 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.

To make things as clear as possible, you should also state why specific variables were omitted from the research scope, and
whether this was because it was a delimitation or a limitation. You should also explain why they could not be overcome with
standard research methods backed up by scientific evidence.

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…

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.

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.

REF#4

What is Scope and Delimitation?

Scope and delimitation are the two vital things in any research paper and thesis. The scope of a study describes how deeply the
research area will be investigated in the work and establishes the limitations that the investigation will operate.

Delimitations are the parameters set by the researcher to determine what to include and what to leave out of the research
study.

Delimitations are the elements that specify the parameters and confines of a study, such as a sample size, the environment or
setting in which it is conducted, population characteristics, etc.

How to write a scope and delimitation?

You can write a good scope statement by answering the following 6 questions
 Why – the broad goals and purposes (purpose) of the study.

What – the topic under investigation and the variables used.

Where – the study’s context or location, that is, where the data will be collected and to what entity they will belong.

When – the time period during which the data must be gathered.

Who – the topic of the investigation and the demographic from whom they will be chosen. For generalizations to be
possible, this population must be sizable.

How – how the research will be carried out, including the methodology, research tools, and analysis procedures. The research
design, such as whether it is experimental, qualitative, or a case study, will also be described.

Here are some of the effective ways to start writing your scope:

 This study aims to…

 This study is to focus on…
 This study covers the..

Readers should understand why the delimitation criteria were chosen, what alternatives existed, and why these alternatives
were rejected because the researcher had influence over these factors. The reader must comprehend how and why you choose
the experiment you have if, for instance, you are gathering data that can be drawn from three distinct but comparable studies.

Here are some of the effective ways 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…

Scope and delimitation example

To understand better let us see the example

Let’s say one researcher wants to study the impact of using social media during working hours. In this case, it is not possible
for the researcher to cover every aspect of the topic.

Therefore, the target population will need to be isolated within the scope. In this instance, the focus could be limited to a group
of 100 employees in the Finance department at a single company. The impact could be observed for a duration of 6 months.
These would form the delimitations of the study.

In this example, the researcher might answer why he/she chooses to study sample employees of 10. Why does he/she select the
employees from the finance department, not from the HR or IT department? Why did he/she choose the XYZ Ltd company over
others?

What is the purpose of scope and delimitation in research?

Scope and delimitation of the study are two important elements of a research paper that inform the reader what information
is included in the research and explain why the author chose that information.

If you are about to write a research paper then one of the first tasks you need to perform when completing research is to
identify the scope of the project. When identifying the scope, you need to address not only the problem or issue that you want
to study but the population that you want to examine.

A delimitation is sometimes called a “boundary condition,” which specifies a region beyond which a theory or hypothesis is
either changed or does not hold.

Final words
Both Scope and delimitation are equally important while writing your research paper or thesis. This provides a better
understanding to the readers and future researchers. After reading this article Scope and delimitation. All things you
need to know we hope you have a better understanding.

REF#5
Scope and delimitations are two elements of a research paper or thesis. The scope of a study explains the extent
to which the research area will be explored in the work and specifies the parameters within which the study will
be operating. For example, let's say a researcher wants to study the impact of mobile phones on behavior
patterns of elementary school children. However, it is not possible for the researcher to cover every aspect of the
topic.

So the scope will have to be narrowed down to a certain section of the target population. In this case, the scope
might be narrowed down to a group of 50 children in grades 3-5 of one specific school. Their behavior patterns in
school may have been observed for a duration of 6 months. These would form the delimitations of the study.

Thus, delimitations are the characteristics that limit the scope and describe the boundaries of the study, such as
the sample size, geographical location or setting in which the study takes place, population traits, etc.
Additionally, the researcher might also choose to use some research tools and methodologies to collect data but
not others. These delimitations might be imposed for practical reasons, such as lack of time or financial
resources to carry out a more thorough investigation. The delimitation section of the study should explain why
specific choices were made while others were excluded and how this might affect the outcome of the research.
In the example mentioned above, the researcher might state why he/she chose to study a sample population of
50 students, why he/she selected students from Grades 3-5 and not grades 1-2, and why he/she chose students of
Billabong Elementary Public School over other schools.

How do I present the scope of my study?

The scope of a study explains the extent to which the research area will be explored in the work and specifies the
parameters within the study will be operating.

Basically, this means that you will have to define what the study is going to cover and what it is focusing on.
Similarly, you also have to define what the study is not going to cover. This will come under the limitations.
Generally, the scope of a research paper is followed by its limitations.

As a researcher, you have to be careful when you define your scope or area of focus. Remember that if you
broaden the scope too much, you might not be able to do justice to the work or it might take a very long time to
complete. Consider the feasibility of your work before you write down the scope. Again, if the scope is too
narrow, the findings might not be generalizable.

Typically, the information that you need to include in the scope would cover the following:

1. General purpose of the study

2. The population or sample that you are studying

3. The duration of the study

4. The topics or theories that you will discuss

5. The geographical location covered in the study

REF#6
REF#7

Setting Limits and Focusing Your Study: Exploring

scope and delimitation
As a researcher, it can be easy to get lost in the vast expanse of information and data available. Thus, when
starting a research project, one of the most important things to consider is the scope and delimitation of the
study. Setting limits and focusing your study is essential to ensure that the research project is manageable,
relevant, and able to produce useful results. In this article, we will explore the importance of setting limits and
focusing your study through an in-depth analysis of scope and delimitation.

Scope and Delimitation – Definition and difference

Scope refers to the range of the research project and the study limitations set in place to define the
boundaries of the project and delimitation refers to the specific aspects of the research project that the study
will focus on.

In simpler words, scope is the breadth of your study, while delimitation is the depth of your study.

Scope and delimitation are both essential components of a research project, and they are often confused with
one another. The scope defines the parameters of the study, while delimitation sets the boundaries within
those parameters. The scope and delimitation of a study are usually established early on in the research
process and guide the rest of the project.

Types of Scope and Delimitation

Significance of Scope and Delimitation

Setting limits and focusing your study through scope and delimitation is crucial for the following reasons:
  It allows researchers to define the research project’s boundaries, enabling them to focus on specific
aspects of the project. This focus makes it easier to gather relevant data and avoid unnecessary
information that might complicate the study’s results.
 Setting limits and focusing your study through scope and delimitation enables the researcher to stay
within the parameters of the project’s resources.
 A well-defined scope and delimitation ensure that the research project can be completed within the
available resources, such as time and budget, while still achieving the project’s objectives.

5 Steps to Setting Limits and Defining the Scope and

Delimitation of Your Study

There are a few steps that you can take to set limits and focus your study.

1. Identify your research question or topic

The first step is to identify what you are interested in learning about. The research question should be
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Once you have a research question or
topic, you can start to narrow your focus.

2. Consider the key terms or concepts related to your topic

What are the important terms or concepts that you need to understand in order to answer your research
question? Consider all available resources, such as time, budget, and data availability, when setting scope and
delimitation.

The scope and delimitation should be established within the parameters of the available resources. Once you
have identified the key terms or concepts, you can start to develop a glossary or list of definitions.

3. Consider the different perspectives on your topic

There are often different perspectives on any given topic. Get feedback on the proposed scope and
delimitation. Advisors can provide guidance on the feasibility of the study and offer suggestions for
improvement.

It is important to consider all of the different perspectives in order to get a well-rounded understanding of
your topic.

4. Narrow your focus

Be specific and concise when setting scope and delimitation. The parameters of the study should be clearly
defined to avoid ambiguity and ensure that the study is focused on relevant aspects of the research question.

This means deciding which aspects of your topic you will focus on and which aspects you will eliminate.

5. Develop the final research plan

Revisit and revise the scope and delimitation as needed. As the research project progresses, the scope and
delimitation may need to be adjusted to ensure that the study remains focused on the research question and
can produce useful results. This plan should include your research goals, methods, and timeline.

Examples of Scope and Delimitation

To better understand scope and delimitation, let us consider two examples of research questions and how
scope and delimitation would apply to them.

Example 1
Research question: What are the effects of social media on mental health?

Scope: The scope of the study will focus on the impact of social media on the mental health of young adults
aged 18-24 in the United States.

Delimitation: The study will specifically examine the following aspects of social media: frequency of use, types
of social media platforms used, and the impact of social media on self-esteem and body image.

Example 2-
Research question: What are the factors that influence employee job satisfaction in the healthcare industry?

Scope: The scope of the study will focus on employee job satisfaction in the healthcare industry in the United
States.

Delimitation: The study will specifically examine the following factors that influence employee job satisfaction:
salary, work-life balance, job security, and opportunities for career growth.

Setting limits and defining the scope and delimitation of a research study is essential to conducting effective
research. By doing so, researchers can ensure that their study is focused, manageable, and feasible within the
given time frame and resources. It can also help to identify areas that require further study, providing a
foundation for future research.

So, the next time you embark on a research project, don’t forget to set clear limits and define the scope and
delimitation of your study. It may seem like a tedious task, but it can ultimately lead to more meaningful and
impactful research. And if you still can’t find a solution, reach out to Enago Academy using #AskEnago and tag

1. What is scope in research?

The scope in research refers to the boundaries and extent of a study, defining its specific objectives, target population,
variables, methods, and limitations, which helps researchers focus and provide a clear understanding of what will be
investigated.
 2. What is delimitation in research?
Delimitation in research defines the specific boundaries and limitations of a study, such as geographical, temporal, or
conceptual constraints, outlining what will be excluded or not within the scope of investigation, providing clarity and
ensuring the study remains focused and manageable.
3. How to write a scope?
To write a scope; 1. Clearly define research objectives. 2. Identify specific research questions. 3. Determine the target
population for the study. 4. Outline the variables to be investigated. 5. Establish limitations and constraints. 6. Set
boundaries and extent of the investigation. 7. Ensure focus, clarity, and manageability. 8. Provide context for the research
project.
4. How to write delimitations?
To write delimitations; 1. Identify geographical boundaries or constraints. 2. Define the specific time period or timeframe
of the study. 3. Specify the sample size or selection criteria. 4. Clarify any demographic limitations (e.g., age, gender,
occupation). 5. Address any limitations related to data collection methods. 6. Consider limitations regarding the
availability of resources or data. 7. Exclude specific variables or factors from the scope of the study. 8. Clearly state any
conceptual boundaries or theoretical frameworks. 9. Acknowledge any potential biases or constraints in the research
design. 10. Ensure that the delimitations provide a clear focus and scope for the study.

WHAT IS LIMITATIONS? Research limitations are, at the simplest level, the weaknesses of the
study, based on factors that are often outside of your control as the researcher. These factors could
include things like time, access to funding, equipment, data or participants.
The limitations of a study are its flaws or shortcomings which could be the result of unavailability of
resources, small sample size, flawed methodology, etc. No study is completely flawless or inclusive of all
possible aspects. Therefore, listing the limitations of your study reflects honesty and transparency and
also shows that you have a complete understanding of the topic.

Generally speaking, the limitations are added in the Discussion section, just before the concluding
paragraph. While you should definitely point out the limitations, do not get into an elaborate discussion
about them. Keep this section short and crisp. The limitations of a study basically discusses
any unanswered questions that your study did not address. Could you have used another means or
method of data collection? Could the research design have been better? Was the sample not
representative of the target population? Being self-critical and acknowledging the study’s limitations will
give the impression that you are aware of what the study was not able to cover. Moreover, it would
prevent the peer reviewer from pointing them out.

Ref#8

Research Limitations & Delimitations

What they are and how they’re different (with examples)
If you’re new to the world of research, you’ve probably heard the terms “research limitations” and
“research delimitations” being thrown around, often quite loosely. In this post, we’ll unpack what
both of these mean, how they’re similar and how they’re different – so that you can write up these
sections the right way.

Overview: Limitations vs Delimitations

1. Are they the same?
2. What are research limitations
3. What are research delimitations
4.Limitations vs delimitations

First things first…

Let’s start with the most important takeaway point of this post – research limitations and research
delimitations are not the same – but they are related to each other (we’ll unpack that a little
later). So, if you hear someone using these two words interchangeably, be sure to share this post with
them!

Research Limitations

Research limitations are, at the simplest level, the weaknesses of the study, based on factors that
are often outside of your control as the researcher. These factors could include things like time,
access to funding, equipment, data or participants. For example, if you weren’t able to access a
random sample of participants for your study and had to adopt a convenience sampling
strategy instead, that would impact the generalizability of your findings and therefore reflect a
limitation of your study.

Research limitations can also emerge from the research design itself. For example, if you were
undertaking a correlational study, you wouldn’t be able to infer causality (since correlation
doesn’t mean certain causation). Similarly, if you utilised online surveys to collect data from your
participants, you naturally wouldn’t be able to get the same degree of rich data that you would from
in-person interviews.

Simply put, research limitations reflect the shortcomings of a study, based on practical (or
theoretical) constraints that the researcher faced. These shortcomings limit what you
can conclude from a study, but at the same time, present a foundation for future research.
Importantly, all research has limitations, so there’s no need to hide anything here – as long as
you discuss how the limitations might affect your findings, it’s all good.
 Research Delimitations

Alright, now that we’ve unpacked the limitations, let’s move on to the delimitations.

Research delimitations are similar to limitations in that they also “limit” the study, but their focus is
entirely different. Specifically, the delimitations of a study refer to the scope of the research aims
and research questions. In other words, delimitations reflect the choices you, as the
researcher, intentionally make in terms of what you will and won’t try to achieve with your study.
In other words, what your research aims and research questions will and won’t include.

As we’ve spoken about many times before, it’s important to have a tight, narrow focus for your
research, so that you can dive deeply into your topic, apply your energy to one specific area and
develop meaningful insights. If you have an overly broad scope or unfocused topic, your research will
often pull in multiple, even opposing directions, and you’ll just land up with a muddy mess of
findings.

So, the delimitations section is where you’ll clearly state what your research aims and research
questions will focus on – and just as importantly, what they will exclude. For example, you might
investigate a widespread phenomenon, but choose to focus your study on a specific age group,
ethnicity or gender. Similarly, your study may focus exclusively on one country, city or even
 organization. As long as the scope is well justified (in other words, it represents a novel, valuable
research topic), this is perfectly acceptable – in fact, it’s essential. Remember, focus is your friend.

Conclusion: Limitations vs Delimitations

Ok, so let’s recap.
Research limitations and research delimitations are related in that they both refer to “limits” within a
study. But, they are distinctly different. Limitations reflect the shortcomings of your study, based on
practical or theoretical constraints that you faced.
Contrasted to that, delimitations reflect the choices that you made in terms of the focus and scope of
your research aims and research questions. If you want to learn more about research aims and
questions, you can check out this video post, where we unpack those concepts in detail.

Ref#10

How to Present the Limitations of the

Study Examples
Wordvice HJ

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What are the limitations of a study?

The limitations of a study are its flaws or shortcomings. Study limitations can exist due to constraints on research
design, methodology, materials, etc., and these factors may impact the findings of your study. However, researchers
are often reluctant to discuss the limitations of their study in their papers, feeling that bringing up limitations may
undermine its research value in the eyes of readers and reviewers.

In spite of the impact it might have (and perhaps because of it) you should clearly acknowledge any limitations in your
research paper in order to show readers—whether journal editors, other researchers, or the general public—that you
are aware of these limitations and to explain how they affect the conclusions that can be drawn from the research.

In this article, we provide some guidelines for writing about research limitations, show examples of some frequently
seen study limitations, and recommend techniques for presenting this information. And after you have finished drafting
and have received manuscript editing for your work, you still might want to follow this up with academic editing before
submitting your work to your target journal.

Why do I need to include limitations of research in my

paper?
Although limitations address the potential weaknesses of a study, writing about them toward the end of your paper
actually strengthens your study by identifying any problems before other researchers or reviewers find them.

Furthermore, pointing out study limitations shows that you’ve considered the impact of research weakness thoroughly
and have an in-depth understanding of your research topic. Since all studies face limitations, being honest and
detailing these limitations will impress researchers and reviewers more than ignoring them.

Where should I put the limitations of the study in my

paper?
Some limitations might be evident to researchers before the start of the study, while others might become clear
while you are conducting the research. Whether these limitations are anticipated or not, and whether they are due
to research design or to methodology, they should be clearly identified and discussed in the discussion section—the
final section of your paper. Most journals now require you to include a discussion of potential limitations of your
work, and many journals now ask you to place this “limitations section” at the very end of your article.

Some journals ask you to also discuss the strengths of your work in this section, and some allow you to freely
choose where to include that information in your discussion section—make sure to always check the author
instructions of your target journal before you finalize a manuscript and submit it for peer review.

Limitations of the Study Examples

There are several reasons why limitations of research might exist. The two main categories of limitations are those
that result from the methodology and those that result from issues with the researcher(s).

Common Methodological Limitations of Studies

Limitations of research due to methodological problems can be addressed by clearly and directly identifying the
potential problem and suggesting ways in which this could have been addressed—and SHOULD be addressed in
future studies. The following are some major potential methodological issues that can impact the conclusions
researchers can draw from the research.

Issues with research samples and selection

Sampling errors occur when a probability sampling method is used to select a sample, but that sample does not
reflect the general population or appropriate population concerned. This results in limitations of your study known as
“sample bias” or “selection bias.”

For example, if you conducted a survey to obtain your research results, your samples (participants) were asked to
respond to the survey questions. However, you might have had limited ability to gain access to the appropriate type
or geographic scope of participants. In this case, the people who responded to your survey questions may not truly
be a random sample.
Insufficient sample size for statistical measurements
When conducting a study, it is important to have a sufficient sample size in order to draw valid conclusions. The
larger the sample, the more precise your results will be. If your sample size is too small, it will be difficult to identify
significant relationships in the data.

Normally, statistical tests require a larger sample size to ensure that the sample is considered representative of a
population and that the statistical result can be generalized to a larger population. It is a good idea to understand
how to choose an appropriate sample size before you conduct your research by using scientific calculation tools—in
fact, many journals now require such estimation to be included in every manuscript that is sent out for review.

Lack of previous research studies on the topic

Citing and referencing prior research studies constitutes the basis of the literature review for your thesis or study,
and these prior studies provide the theoretical foundations for the research question you are investigating. However,
depending on the scope of your research topic, prior research studies that are relevant to your thesis might be
limited.

When there is very little or no prior research on a specific topic, you may need to develop an entirely new research
typology. In this case, discovering a limitation can be considered an important opportunity to identify literature gaps
and to present the need for further development in the area of study.

Methods/instruments/techniques used to collect the data

After you complete your analysis of the research findings (in the discussion section), you might realize that the
manner in which you have collected the data or the ways in which you have measured variables has limited your
ability to conduct a thorough analysis of the results.

For example, you might realize that you should have addressed your survey questions from another viable
perspective, or that you were not able to include an important question in the survey. In these cases, you should
acknowledge the deficiency or deficiencies by stating a need for future researchers to revise their specific methods
for collecting data that includes these missing elements.

Common Limitations of the Researcher(s)

Study limitations that arise from situations relating to the researcher or researchers (whether the direct fault of the
individuals or not) should also be addressed and dealt with, and remedies to decrease these limitations—both
hypothetically in your study, and practically in future studies—should be proposed.

Limited access to data

If your research involved surveying certain people or organizations, you might have faced the problem of having
limited access to these respondents. Due to this limited access, you might need to redesign or restructure your
 research in a different way. In this case, explain the reasons for limited access and be sure that your finding is still
reliable and valid despite this limitation.

Time constraints
Just as students have deadlines to turn in their class papers, academic researchers might also have to meet
deadlines for submitting a manuscript to a journal or face other time constraints related to their research (e.g.,
participants are only available during a certain period; funding runs out; collaborators move to a new institution).
The time available to study a research problem and to measure change over time might be constrained by such
practical issues. If time constraints negatively impacted your study in any way, acknowledge this impact by
mentioning a need for a future study (e.g., a longitudinal study) to answer this research problem.

Conflicts arising from cultural bias and other personal issues

Researchers might hold biased views due to their cultural backgrounds or perspectives of certain phenomena, and
this can affect a study’s legitimacy. Also, it is possible that researchers will have biases toward data and results that
only support their hypotheses or arguments. In order to avoid these problems, the author(s) of a study should
examine whether the way the research problem was stated and the data-gathering process was carried out
appropriately.

Steps for Organizing Your Study Limitations Section

When you discuss the limitations of your study, don’t simply list and describe your limitations—explain how these
limitations have influenced your research findings. There might be multiple limitations in your study, but you only
need to point out and explain those that directly relate to and impact how you address your research questions.

We suggest that you divide your limitations section into three steps: (1) identify the study limitations; (2) explain how
they impact your study in detail; and (3) propose a direction for future studies and present alternatives. By following
this sequence when discussing your study’s limitations, you will be able to clearly demonstrate your study’s
weakness without undermining the quality and integrity of your research.

Step 1. Identify the limitation(s) of the study

 This part should comprise around 10%-20% of your discussion of study limitations.

The first step is to identify the particular limitation(s) that affected your study. There are many possible limitations of
research that can affect your study, but you don’t need to write a long review of all possible study limitations. A 200-
500 word critique is an appropriate length for a research limitations section. In the beginning of this section, identify
what limitations your study has faced and how important these limitations are.

You only need to identify limitations that had the greatest potential impact on: (1) the quality of your findings, and (2)
your ability to answer your research question.
 Step 1: Identify and describe the limitation. Here, the model’s estimates are based on
potentially biased observational studies.

Step 2. Explain these study limitations in detail

 This part should comprise around 60-70% of your discussion of limitations.

After identifying your research limitations, it’s time to explain the nature of the limitations and how they potentially
impacted your study. For example, when you conduct quantitative research, a lack of probability sampling is an
important issue that you should mention. On the other hand, when you conduct qualitative research, the inability to
generalize the research findings could be an issue that deserves mention.

Explain the role these limitations played on the results and implications of the research and justify the choice you
made in using this “limiting” methodology or other action in your research. Also, make sure that these limitations
didn’t undermine the quality of your dissertation.

Step 2: Explain the limitations in detail and the potential impact. These limitations can be broken down into several subsections,
as seen in this example.

Step 3. Propose a direction for future studies and present alternatives

(optional)

 This part should comprise around 10-20% of your discussion of limitations.

 After acknowledging the limitations of the research, you need to discuss some possible ways to overcome these
limitations in future studies. One way to do this is to present alternative methodologies and ways to avoid issues
with, or “fill in the gaps of” the limitations of this study you have presented. Discuss both the pros and cons of these
alternatives and clearly explain why researchers should choose these approaches.

Make sure you are current on approaches used by prior studies and the impacts they have had on their findings.
Cite review articles or scientific bodies that have recommended these approaches and why. This might be evidence
in support of the approach you chose, or it might be the reason you consider your choices to be included as
limitations. This process can act as a justification for your approach and a defense of your decision to take it while
acknowledging the feasibility of other approaches.

Phrases and Tips for Introducing Your Study Limitations in

the Discussion Section
The following phrases are frequently used to introduce the limitations of the study:

 “There may be some possible limitations in this study.”

 “The findings of this study have to be seen in light of some limitations.”
 “The first is the…The second limitation concerns the…”
 “The empirical results reported herein should be considered in the light of some limitations.”
 “This research, however, is subject to several limitations.”
 “The primary limitation to the generalization of these results is…”
 “Nonetheless, these results must be interpreted with caution and a number of limitations should be borne in mind.”
 “As with the majority of studies, the design of the current study is subject to limitations.”
 “There are two major limitations in this study that could be addressed in future research. First, the study focused on
…. Second ….”