Discussion Thread: Assumptions, Limitations, Delimitations

Assumptions, Limitations, Delimitations

Kelly

School of Business, Liberty University

Alase (2021) defines research assumptions as foundational beliefs that the researcher holds to be true without empirical validation. An example of these foundational beliefs includes the expectation that each study participant will be authentic and consistent in their interpretation of questions. Yin (2018) urges against making these assumptions and suggests that they must be identified swiftly to enable transparency and clarify the case study's philosophical grounding. It is vitally important in research to resist the temptation to develop preconceptions, as it skews the study's results, as Bradshaw, Atkinson, and Doody (2021) mention when they state that these underlying beliefs shape how qualitative researchers draw meaning from data. Alase (2021) says that research limitations have to do with those uncontrollable variables that have an impact on the credibility of a study and its ability to be generalized. Saunders et al. (2022) stressed how important it is to clearly define what the limits are in an effort to preserve the study's transparency to whatever degree possible. Yin (2018) furthers that when the boundaries are acknowledged, the interpretation of the findings can be more realistic. O'Cathain, Murphy, and Nicholl (2020) recommend taking the remote route to mitigate limitations. When the eligibility criteria are broader and interviews are remote, the interviewer can maintain analytic coherence.

Different from assumptions and limitations, Alase (2021) defines delimitations as purposeful boundaries imposed by the researcher to refine a study's scope. Bengtsson and Jacobsson (2020) call them preset parameters that keep the study focused and feasible. Yin (2018) communicates how important it is to define the boundaries of the case so that it aligns with the research questions and data collection. An example of this would be evaluating the impact of de facto segregation in higher education on a set population of students. When we deliberately exclude other populations, we enable ourselves to ensure depth of the study rather than breadth. The word of the Lord is the fortification of all research to ensure its integrity, validity, and reliability. According to John 8:32 (New International Version, 2011), truth is affirmed as a divine principle which confirms how vital it is to have valid findings, while Proverbs 4:7 (New International Version, 2011) admonishes to seek wisdom and understanding, supporting the rigor that comes with scholarly research. According to McGhee and Grant (2021), when a researcher is guided by biblical ethics, the work they do is representative of the accountability that comes with that foundation.

References

Alase, A. (2021). The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA): A guide to a good qualitative research approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 9(2), 19–27.  https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.9n.2p.19 Links to an external site.  

Bengtsson, M., & Jacobsson, K. (2020). Managing boundaries in qualitative research: Delimitations and dilemmas. Qualitative Research Journal, 20(4), 389–403.  https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-01-2020-0003 Links to an external site.  

Bradshaw, C., Atkinson, S., & Doody, O. (2021). Employing a qualitative descriptive approach in health care research. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 8, 1–8.  https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936211015616 Links to an external site.  

McGhee, P., & Grant, P. (2021). Faith-based ethics and organizational behavior: A Christian perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 174(3), 567–582.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04609-2 Links to an external site.  

O’Cathain, A., Murphy, E., & Nicholl, J. (2020). The quality of mixed methods studies in health services research. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 25(1), 44–50.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819619873903 Links to an external site.  

Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., Baker, S., Waterfield, J., Bartlam, B., Burroughs, H., & Jinks, C. (2022). Saturation in qualitative research: Exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 56, 139–157.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01105-3 Links to an external site.  

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Sage.