How to Effectively Write the SCOPE AND DELIMITATION | Thesis Secret Tricks

Summary

In this video, Carl Season, a licensed professional teacher, provides a comprehensive guide on writing the 'Scope and Delimitation' section of a research paper. He emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries to manage expectations for the research. Through an example from his own thesis, Carl demonstrates how to specify the research's scope, including the data sources, time period, and geographical focus. The video encourages students to collaborate with their team to ensure a well-rounded, clear, and defensible scope for their research, which helps avoid potential loopholes in academic defenses.

Takeaways

• 😀 Clear scope and delimitation are crucial in research to set boundaries for what is included and excluded in the study.
• 😀 The scope and delimitation section helps readers and panelists know what to expect from the research, preventing unrealistic expectations.
• 😀 The scope should include the ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who’, and ‘when’ to define the study's focus clearly.
• 😀 'What' refers to the specific topics or areas covered by the research.
• 😀 'Where' defines the geographical limits of the study, specifying the locations involved.
• 😀 'Who' refers to the participants or subjects involved in the study, outlining the target group and their characteristics.
• 😀 'When' establishes the time frame of the study, indicating the period during which data was collected or the research took place.
• 😀 Defining scope and delimitation clearly can protect researchers during the defense process by reducing potential loopholes or misunderstandings.
• 😀 In Carl's example, his thesis focused on English proficiency data from the EF English Proficiency Index (2021), making it a specific and limited study.
• 😀 Scope and delimitation should be crafted carefully to avoid ambiguity, and the entire research team should collaborate to ensure all aspects are covered.
• 😀 Carl emphasizes that the research design can significantly influence the scope, and in his case, the study was based on data mining due to the pandemic, without interviews or surveys.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of including a 'scope and delimitation' in a research study?

The 'scope and delimitation' section defines the boundaries of the research, clarifying what will and will not be covered in the study. This helps set realistic expectations for the readers and panelists, ensuring they understand the focus and limitations of the research.

How does the 'scope and delimitation' section help in a research defense?

The 'scope and delimitation' section acts as a safeguard during the defense, addressing potential loopholes and preemptively answering questions that may arise about the research's limitations and coverage.

Why is it important to be specific in the 'scope and delimitation' of a study?

Being specific helps avoid confusion and ensures that the research remains focused. It prevents panelists from raising irrelevant questions about areas not covered by the study, thereby making the defense smoother and more straightforward.

What are the key components that should be included in the 'scope and delimitation' section?

The key components include: 'What' – the scope of the research; 'Where' – the geographical area covered; 'Who' – the people involved; and 'When' – the time frame of the research.

What was the specific focus of the research example mentioned in the video?

The research focused on determining the English language proficiency levels of countries in Southeast Asia, using data from the EF English Proficiency Index for the year 2021, and examining the English education curricula of these countries.

How did the researcher limit the scope regarding the year of data used in the study?

The research only considered data from 2021 and did not account for data from other years like 2020, 2022, or beyond, ensuring that the study was specific to the English proficiency levels for that year.

What method did the research use to gather data, and why was this method chosen?

The research employed data mining as its research design due to the pandemic, which prevented the use of interviews. Data mining involves gathering credible references from the internet and books to support the study.

Why was it important for the research to focus on specific aspects of English curricula in Southeast Asian countries?

The research aimed to compare the English curricula in Southeast Asian countries, specifically looking at the starting level of instruction, the number of teaching hours, and the teaching approaches used. This focused analysis helped understand why certain countries performed better in English proficiency.

What is the significance of the 'scope and delimitation' in preventing misunderstandings during a research defense?

By clearly outlining what is included and excluded in the study, the 'scope and delimitation' prevents panelists from raising irrelevant questions and helps defend the research's validity by addressing potential concerns upfront.

How did the researcher address potential gaps in their study, such as missing data from certain countries?

The researcher explicitly mentioned that data from Brunei, Laos, and Timor-Leste was not included because these countries did not participate in the EF English Proficiency Index for 2021. This clarification prevented confusion during the defense.