Lesson 7
The Significance (Importance), Scope and Delimitations of the Study
& Definition of Terms
Overview
This lesson will help you to understand how to write significance, scope and
delimitation of your study. It will also help your in defining some terms in your propose
paper.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
a. define scope and delimitation of the study;
b. discuss how to write significance, scope and delimitation of study;
c. explain how to define terms; and
d. make a significance, scope and delimitation of study.
Materials
a. Laptop/Gadget
b. Power Point Presentation/ApowerREC
c. Module in ELT
Duration : 3 hours
Lesson Proper
The Significance (Importance) of the study
In this portion of the research paper, the investigator expresses the value of the
research problem to be undertaken. It is at this part where the significant contributions
may be viewed from the point of the target beneficiaries. The significance of the study
includes the following:
1. The rationale, timeliness and relevance of the study to existing conditions/situations
covered by the investigation.
2. What motivated the researchers to conduct the study.
3. The possible solutions to existing problems or improvement to unsatisfactory
conditions.
4. Showing the individuals, groups, or communities be placed in a more advantageous
situation on the accounts of the study.
5. The possible contributions to the fount of knowledge.
6. Considerations and discussions of the implications, including possible causes of the
problems, the positive effects of the problems, and the remedial measures to solve the
identified problems.
The use of the following phrases could be of help expressing the significance of
the study:
a. Results of this study could help benefit……
b. The study will enhance involvement in the …….
c. Similar organizations/institutions will benefit from this study……
d. This study can help improve the………..
e. The findings may also serve as guides to…..
f. This study will serve…..
g. This study will contribute……
h. The results of this study will provide some insights and understanding on how…..
i. The study will make them aware of……
j. This could motivate and challenge (school) administrators to …..
The Scope and Delimitations of the Study
The scope of the study is one of the most important part of a research paper. It
tells what subject the researcher explores. It refers to the problem or subjects that a
researcher plans to investigate. The scope identifies the boundaries of the study. This
are in terms of time, location and samples (subjects) of the study.
On the other hand, the limitations of the study are factors that the researcher
may encounter that will inadvertently narrow down the scope of the study. These are
external circumstances and situations beyond the control of the investigator.
Delimitations are factors the researcher consciously chooses to narrow down
and Common delimitations include segment and define the scope of the study.
population/sample size, research tools and instrument use in data gathering, and the
structure of the study.
The limitations of the study may occur in any part of the study. For instance, in
analysing the study, there could be possible limitations in several parts of the paper.
This may arise in the analysis itself or with the size or types of the sample size.
Limitations can be experienced by the researcher in the types of research tools and
equipment he uses in carrying out the study. Moreover, limitation may also arise
through the process of self-reporting. In qualitative research, the researcher may not be
able to extrapolate results to a larger segment of the population causing limitations of
the study.
The limitations can produce a different outcome that what the researcher expects
or anticipated; but, it is important that all the limitations are stated in the study. He
limitations should be stated and explained how they affected the results of the study.
This will provide clarifications for the readers and make them discover additional
opportunities to follow-up the study, or conduct similar studies.
Researchers should know that all studies have limitations. The Limitations
however are only problems they encounter in their specified scope. Researchers should
acknowledge what the limitations were and to what extent they affected the results of
the study
The use of the following phrases could help the researcher express the scope,
limitation and delimitation of the study:
a. The study is focused on……………..
b. The study is limited to …..
c. The coverage of the study…..
d. The investigation is concerned on……
e. The study does not seek to include…..
Definition of Terms
To avoid misunderstanding and to have clarity in explaining the meanings,
researchers assign key terms in their investigation. Effective researchers clearly
explains the meanings of the key terms they use in their investigation to avoid
confusions among the readers. The key terms should be clearly and precisely defined.
A term can be defined in the following ways:
a. Lexically. A lexical definition is obtained from the dictionary,
b. Authoritatively. The definition is taken from published and unpublished materials, or,
c. Operationally. This definition is used according to how it is used in the study.
lf a term is lexically or authoritatively defined, the source must be cited
The following are guidelines for the definition of terms:
1. There must be an introductory sentence/paragraph before staring definıng a term.
2. Terms must be arranged alphabetically or according to their importance or use in the
study. (MSU-Maguindanao format states terms are to be defined alphabetically.)
3. Emphasize the terms to be defined either by a bold print, or by underlining, or by
italicizing, (MSU-Maguindanao format says bold.)
4. If the Tem to be defined is followed by a dash (-), period (), or no punctuation, a
consistent format must be followed throughout institutional policy.
5 Do not number the terms to be defined like 1,2, 3, and so on.
6. Do not capitalize the whole terms, only the first letter is capitalized.
7. Define terms, which, though common, may have a special, specific meaning, or are
used differently.
8 Define terms those is absolutely necessary in the study and do so precisely by using
authoritative document.
9 If it is difficult to find an authoritative definition, find one or two such definitions; cite
them and try to create your own definition as used in the study. (operational definition)
10. Complicated and lengthy definitions like those required in Science or Mathematics
should be placed in the Appendix of the Study.
