Nursing Research - Assumptions, Delimitation and Limitation in Research study

1. Prof X Emerensia
HOD in Child Health Nursing
RVS College of Nursing, Sulur, Coimbatore

2. • Assumptions are basically beliefs
and ideas that we hold to be
true
• Often with little or no evidence
and are not statistically tested in
research

3. Assumptions are statements that are
taken for granted or are considered true,
even though they have not been
scientifically tested

4. • Research Topic selection
• Theory under Investigation (Literature Review)
• Phenomenon under Investigation
• To conduct the study (Instrument, Methodology, Analysis)
• To present the Result (Level of Significance)
• Participants in the study

5. Example:
• Research is build upon assumptions
• Assumptions provide Basis to conduct the research study
Information taken through
Survey
Interview

6. • Assumptions listed in Research Paper may be Good sources of
Research topics
• Tested assumptions through research studies expand
professional body of knowledge

7. ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESIS
Beliefs and ideas that we hold to
be true
Prediction
With little or no evidence and
not statistically tested in research
Statistically tested and may be
accepted or rejected
Researchers attempt to discover
the correlation
Predicts relationship between
variables and statistically tested
to conclude the study
Generally formulated through
Qualitative, Descriptive and
exploratory research studies and
may be used in non cause-effect
studies to guide research process
Used in Quantitative studies
where interplay of dependent
and independent variables is
investigated such as
experimental and Correlational
studies

8. TYPES OF
ASSUMPTIONS
Universal
Assumptions
Assumptions
based on
Theories
Assumption
needed to conduct
a Research
Warranted
Assumptions
Unwarranted
Assumptions

9. Universal Assumptions
Beliefs that are assumed to be true by a large part of
society, but testing such assumptions is not always
possible
Example:
• There is a supernatural power that governs this Universe

10. Assumptions based on Theories
If a Research study is based on a Theory, the
assumptions of the particular theory may become
assumption of that particular research study
Example:
A study based on Roy’s Adaptation Model will use assumption of
this particular theoretical model

11. Assumption needed to conduct a Research
Common sense assumptions may be developed to
conduct a particular study
Example:
• Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease is more common
among Urban People as compared to Rural People
• Nursing care influences the recovery of patients

12. Warranted Assumptions
Assumptions are stated along with evidence to support
Example:
• Regular prayers bring success, because they boost morale

13. Unwarranted Assumptions
Assumptions are stated without any supportive
evidence
Example:
• God exists everywhere in this universe

14. ASSUMPTION – QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
• Concerned primarily with process, rather than
outcomes/products
• Interested in meaning – how people make sense of
their lives, experiences, and life styles
•Primary Instrument for Data Collection and Analysis
(Data are collected through the Human instrument,
rather than through inventories, Questionnaires or
machines)

15. IDENTIFY TYPES OF ASSUMPTIONS
1. People want to assume control of their own Health
Problems
2. Increased Knowledge about an event lowers
anxiety about the event
3. All Human beings need love
4. Patient’s adaptation to a chronic illness depends
on availability of social support for him/her

16. •Boundaries set by the Researcher
before starting the study to clearly
define the scope of the Study
•Mention in the initial chapter of
Dissertation/Thesis

17. •Weakness of the study
•Challenges faced by the researcher
beyond his/her control
•Mention in the last chapter of
Dissertation/Thesis

18. • Control the range of the study
• Reduce the amount of time spent
• Clearly define and narrow down the scope of the study
(Eg: Study might be delimited to secondary schools of a city or
rural female students of a city)
• Make study feasible and practicable
•Identify the constraints or weaknesses of study and
strengthening of evidences generated through the study

19. •Through delimitation, readers can have an idea about
credibility and Generalizability of research findings
•Define the boundaries of selected parameters such as
Geographical location, Age, Gender, Population traits,
Population size, Sample size, study instrument Variables
Studied, Theoretical perspectives and other similar
considerations

20. PHRASES THAT EXPRESS THE DELIMITATIONS
AND LIMITATION
•The study does not cover the……….
•This study is limited to ……..
•The researcher limited this research to…….

21. Examples - Delimitation/Limitation Reason
1. This study was limited to the single
health care centre of the city
(Confinement of particular Area or
Setting)
Limited time and funds
for study
2. This study will be restricted to
nurses with Diploma Qualification
(Whole Population is not studying)
Maintain Homogeneity of
samples (In Clinical area,
only few B.Sc and M.Sc
Qualified nurse)
3. In present study, sample was not
drawn using random sampling
(Restriction about Sampling
Technique)
Non availability of
sampling frame or Time
Constraints

22. Examples -
Delimitation/Limitation
Reason
4. In Present study, locally published
studies were considered for literature
review and for discussion of study
findings (Literature will not reviewed)
Inability to access
International Literature
5. In Present study, randomized control
trial design was not used
(Methodological Procedures not used)
Quasi nature of
independent variable
6. Researcher was limited to data
collected through telephonic method
(Particular Tools not used)
Limited Time for study
7. Researcher limited the follow-up of
patients for only 5 days
(Things researcher not doing)
Hospital protocol
(Patients who underwent
laparotomy are discharged
on 5th postoperative day)

24. •They restrict the ability of research findings to
generalize because of the use of specific
theoretical concepts in study
•Or Limiting the study variables through
operational definitions

25. They usually result from some methodological factors
such as
• Unrepresentative sample
• Weak design
• Single setting
• Limited control over extraneous variables
• Poor implementations of treatment protocol
• Research tool with limited reliability and validity
• Poor data collection procedure
• Ineffective use of statistical analysis

26. GUIDELINESFOR WRITING DELIMITATIONS
• Describe each delimitation in detailed but concise terms
• Explain reason for not considering certain parameters in study
• Mention why a particular delimitation is considered for a
research study
• Clearly explain the reason for not considering certain
parameter in study
• Identify and mention the intended impact of each delimitation
in relation to the overall findings and conclusions of a study

27. Difference between Delimitations, Limitations
and Assumptions
DELIMITATION LIMITATION ASSUMPTION
PURPOSE To determine the
scope of study
To determine the
weakness
associated to
decisions made
in the study
To make study
relevant
CONTROL Should have a
control over where
to draw the
boundaries
Difficult to
control
Can’t be
totally
controlled