The scope of the study sets the parameters, coverage, and the extent of what your research wants to cover. The scope of the study outlines what aspects of the subject will be included and what will be excluded in our proposed research. By delimiting the study, there are wide possibilities for other researchers to replicate our study in different contexts (i.e. locations and populations). Sometimes the scope of the study is called delimitations. The scope or the delimitations of the study are to be written in paragraph format.
The scope or the delimitations of the study forms boundaries to create more focused and manageable research. The boundaries might be related to the setting. For example, the study focuses on a school which has specific demographic characteristics. Besides, the boundaries can also be related to the nature and size of the sample, such as six schools to be involved in the study rather than including a much larger number of schools. Another boundary can be in the form of a unit of analysis, such as interviewing students rather than school administrators or teachers. The time or duration of data collection can also be another boundary to be included in the scope of the study. For instance, how long we are going to observe a specific group of people and for how many times the observation is going to take place.
To help us understand further about what to include in the research, we can refer to the following aspects:
-
Research focus: this section states what aspect of particular interest you intend to study. It could be a problem, phenomenon, concept, event, relationship, behavior, impact, or any other aspect.
-
Research Questions, Aim, and Objectives: include your research question, aim, and objectives in your scope statement. These will define your center of focus and provide clarity of what your research aims to achieve.
-
Delimitations: delimitations are specific borders or boundaries you set for your research. They will provide information about what will be included in your research. Delimitations may cover geographical delimitation, time delimitation, population delimitation, and even variable delimitation
-
Limitations: limitations are the external factors that restrict your research. It can include budget, time, data accessibility, and any other possible factors.
-
Variables and factors: specify your variables or factors that later will be scrutinized. It clearly states the focus and clarifies what aspects will be analyzed. Sometimes, variables can also refer to unit of analysis.
-
Methodology: you need to state your choice of methodology and research design that will be employed in your study.
-
Data and time frame: all data sources you take must be generally stated here. It could be from primary or secondary sources. Besides, define the time frame of the study including the start and end date, as well as any specific time intervals of measurement.
-
Research purpose and contribution: your scope needs to include what your research contributes to the sea of knowledge and why your research is important and worth conducting.
For a research proposal, we can write the scope of the study using present simple or present future tense because it is still considered a plan. However, if we start writing the research report such as our thesis or manuscript for publication, we can either use present simple or past simple tense to indicate that some activities such as data collection was already done. In order to get a clear understanding of how to write the scope of the research, please refer to some of the provided examples below.
Example 1
Topic: Investigating the attitudes and perceptions of millennials towards plant-based diets and their motivations for adopting or not adopting such diets.
Scope of the study: This research entails an in-depth exploration of millennials' attitudes and perceptions towards plant-based diets, as well as the reason behind their decision to adapt them or not. The study will address the factors shaping millennials’ dietary preferences and identify the drives leading to adoption or avoidance of plant-based diets. The research focuses on individuals aged between 25 and 40, employing a mixed-methods approach involving qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. The delimitations include a concentration on self-reported data and the exclusion of psychological aspects influencing dietary choices. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the interactions between attitudes, motivations, and dietary behaviors among millennials regarding plant-based diets, contributing to the knowledge of contemporary dietary trends and practices.
Example 2
Title: Investigating the impact of social media on body image dissatisfaction among young adults
Scope of the study: This study will explore the relationship between social media use and body image dissatisfaction among young adults. The research will involve a cross-sectional survey of participants aged 18-25, assessing their social media use, body image perceptions, and self-esteem. The study aims to identify any correlations between social media use and body image dissatisfaction, and to determine if certain social media platforms or types of content are particularly harmful.
Example 3
Topic: Analysis of the role of social media on the educational development in India from 2000-2015
Scope of the study: With the increase in the number of social media users and its use in everyday communication at the individual and organizational levels, there has been a corresponding increase in its incorporation in educational development and especially in a country like India. In view of this situation, the present study analyzes the role of social media on the educational development of students. To this end, the study will also cover the changes in the usage of social media in the educational field over the time period ranging from 2000-2015. The scope of the study is restricted to select social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The empirical study in this research is restricted to five universities located across India, wherein the opinions of 30 teachers were studied in interview sessions. Further, the study also involves an analysis of students’ perspectives on the role of social media in education from the same university. Therefore the scope of this study is limited to India, and more specifically to those offering Arts and Science-related courses.