Unit 3: Formulating a Research Problem
Lesson 3
Setting the Scope and Limitation of
a Qualitative Research
Practical Research 1
Senior High School Applied - Academic
What do you
think are the
purposes of
building a fence
around a
house?
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Learning
Objective
Indicate the scope, limitations,
At the end of the and delimitations of the study.
lesson, you should be
able to do the
following:
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Identify the following:
Everyday ● A general purpose for
experiences conducting the study
of local ● Sample population or people
farmers in who are the subjects of the
Nueva Ecija study
● Possible duration of the study
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Scope,
Define the coverage of the study,
Limitation,
and avoid or minimize difficulties
and
during the conduct of research.
Delimitation
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Scope,
Limitations, Boundaries or restrictions that
and can affect the flow of conducting
Delimitations the research study
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What is the importance of setting
the scope, limitations, and
delimitations of a study?
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Scope
● Describes the coverage of the study
● Indicates general boundaries of the study
● Serves as the basis when setting up the
delimitations of the study
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Scope
Consider the following:
● General purpose of your study
● Population involved in the study
● Time element and duration of the study
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Scope
Consider the following:
● Topics or ideas covered in the study
● Geographical details
● Theories and methods involved in the study
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Limitation
Refers to uncontrollable factors that can
affect the process of conducting the study,
specifically on the part of the methodology and
results
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Limitation
Methodological limitations can include the
following:
● required number of participants
● sufficiency of references to support claims
● data collection
● measurement
● technique limitations
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Limitation
Personal limitations include the following:
● language barriers
● time constraints
● biases
● financial or budgetary limitations
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Delimitation
Boundaries that the researcher sets up based
on the identified scope and limitations
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Delimitation
This section commonly identifies the following:
● specific population
● specific time limit for conducting the
research
● topics and ideas that will be included or
excluded
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Delimitation
This section commonly identifies the following:
● specific geographical locations of the
observations
● specific theories and methods to be used
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Remember
● The scope indicates the general
research boundaries.
● Limitations are uncontrollable
constraints.
● Delimitations are controlled
and set by the researcher.
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Population
Scope Delimitation
Rice farmers in Central Rice farmers in
Luzon selected areas in
Nueva Ecija, Central
Luzon
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Time Element and Duration
Scope Delimitation
Elections in the 2004, 2010, and 2016
postwar period presidential elections
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Topics or Ideas Covered
Scope Delimitation
Occurrence of Occurrence and effects
typhoons of super typhoons (e.g.,
Haiyan or Yolanda)
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Geographical Details
Scope Delimitation
Poverty in urban Poverty in selected
spaces cities in Metro Manila
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Theories and Methods
Scope Delimitation
Use of qualitative Use of specific
methods instead of qualitative research
quantitative or mixed methods such as
methods interviews and focus
group discussions only
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Activity
Define the scope of the topic:
Experience of American missionaries in doing
social work in Mountain Province, Philippines
from 2015 to 2019
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Activity
Identify the limitations for the topic:
Experience of American missionaries in doing
social work in Mountain Province, Philippines
from 2015 to 2019
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Quick Check
1. What are the differences between scope,
limitations, and delimitations?
2. What are the two common types of
limitations in a study?
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Quick Check
How does defining the scope, limitations, and
delimitations help in the research process?
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Wrap Up
The scope indicates the general
boundaries of the study.
Limitations are uncontrollable
factors that can affect the conduct of
research.
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Wrap Up
Delimitations are the parameters
set by the researcher based on the
defined scope and limitations of the
study.
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Wrap Up
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Bibliography
Ballenger, Bruce P. The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers. 4th
ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2004.
Lester, James D., and James D. Lester. Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide.
9th ed. New York: Longman, 1999.
MacArthur, Charles A., Steve Graham, and Jill Fitzgerald, eds. Handbook of Writing
Research. New York: Guilford Press, 2006.
Walker, Melissa. Writing Research Papers: A Norton Guide. 3rd ed. New York: WW
Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.
Wolcott, Harry F. Writing up Qualitative Research. 3rd ed. California: SAGE
Publications, 2008.
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