Assignment:
You have been asked you to explore the assumptions and delimitations underlying your study. Review your selected method and conceptual framework as to find new assumptions and delimitations. Revise your draft as to include your newly discovered assumptions and delimitations. Strive to find at least one assumption and delimitation from your conceptual framework and at least one assumption from the selected method.
Post your revision, highlighting your changes, to the forum. Justify your changes.
Reading Assignments: Read chapter in Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Fourth Edition.
Writing Goal : Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations
Limitations and delimitations represent potential points of constraint within the study. Limitations are constraints upon the study we cannot control. Conversely, delimitations are the constraints we impose upon a study. Review the miniature literature review, and the conceptual framework as to uncover the assumptions, limitations, and delimitations appearing within your study. Argue about how their acceptance is required for the study and whether they may influence your study.
Writing Goal : Definitions
It is important to inform your reader about the meaning of jargon, special words, and acronyms appearing in the study. Be sure to define terms that: Have a special meaning in your study. Appear in the conceptual framework. Denote variables. Are only known to specialists in your field. May remain subjective without additional clarification. May utilize their origin or history as to clarify some aspect of your study
A definition uses simple terms allowing your reader to understand the word. Further, a definition has the following three parts: The term you wish to define. An association to a concept allowing the term to be generalized. At least one attribute allowing the reader to differentiate the word from other words associated with the concept.
For example, let us say you had to define the term coffee:
Notice that we generalize coffee as a beverage and then make its definition concrete by including an attribute about making coffee. Tying a term to an attribute via a concept allows you to classify and describe a term such that the reader knows exactly what you mean!
Define your terms and make sure they are clear, simple, and contain all three parts.
Writing Goal : Introduction and Summary
Chapter in Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches introduced you to the nature of an introduction. The introduction should hook the reader and prepare them to engage the dissertation. Ideally, an introduction follows Creswell's deficiency model of an introduction.
The summary of the chapter should briefly summarize the chapter and signpost the reader regarding future chapters.