SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

Definition / Concept
Scope
• identifies what topic the researcher intends to
cover. The scope names the information or subject
matter that the individual plans to evaluate.
• However, it is not possible for the researcher to
cover every aspect of the chosen subject. In this
case, the scope might be narrowed down to a select
group of species or an evaluation of population
decline over a certain period of time.
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
Delimitation
• the description of the scope of study
• defines what factors the researcher consciously
controls for and why they have been eliminated
from the study.
• explains why definite aspects of a subject were
chosen and why others were excluded
• research method used as well as the certain
theories that applied to the data are mentioned
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
The Role of Delimitations
• Delimitations are parameters that the researcher
makes to narrow his or her scope of research.
Delimitations are a conscious choice to control
for certain factors in the study.
• The researcher might impose delimitations for
practical reasons, such as lack of time or
financial resources to carry out a more thorough
investigation.
• Delimitations should be stated clearly so that the
audience understands why certain elements were
excluded from the study.
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
Characteristics
1. Area
2. Subject / Problem
3. Research apparatus, equipment and
instrument
4. Time frame
5. Any limitation in the reference population,
sample size
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
The scope and delimitations 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.
5. The period of the study, either months or years, during
which the data were gathered.
6. For each delimiting factor, the discussion on why the
researcher made exclusions and explanation how they
might affect the outcome of the research.
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
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
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Definition / Concept
An alphabetical list of important terms or acronyms that you
define, particularly ambiguous terms or those used in a
special way.
– Includes particular theoretical constructs, formulas,
operational definitions that differ from colloquial
definitions, schools of thought and discipline-specific
acronyms.
– Includes terms which should be interpreted in a manner
unique to your research
– Includes all the important variables in the study
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Role of Definition of Terms
how you define such terms could considerably affect
how the reader understands your thesis

• Include Definition of Terms if your paper uses special terms

that are unique to your field of inquiry or that might not be
understood by the general reader.
• Complicated and lengthy definition should be included in
your appendix.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Types of Definition
• Conceptual Definition
based on concepts or hypothetic ones which are
usually taken from dictionary, encyclopedia
and published journals.

• Operational Definition
based on observable characteristics and how it is
used or formulated in the study.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
The definition of terms should include the following:
• Only terms, words, or phrases which have special
or unique meanings in the study are defined.
• Terms should be defined operationally based on
how they are used in the study.
• The researcher may develop his own definition
from the characteristics of the term defined.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Definitions may be taken from encyclopedias,
books, magazines and newspaper articles,
dictionaries, and other publications but the
researcher must acknowledge his sources.
• Definitions should be brief, clear, and
unequivocal as possible.
• Acronyms should always be spelled out fully
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Example
– Caramelization. Normally associated with fruits with significant
sugar content. Caramelizing is simply the burning of sugars.
– Diffusion theory. It is the process by which an innovation is
adopted by members of a community.
– Evaporation. A process in which matter is changed from a liquid
to a vapor without its temperature reaching the boiling point.
– Hermeneutic. The development and study of theories of
interpretation and understanding of texts
– Relative Humidity. It is the ratio of the partial pressure of water
vapor in the air to the saturation pressure corresponding to the
temperature of air.