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What are the boundaries of the research gap‑ How to consciously decide not to address, and why?

In defining my research gap, I've uncovered a web of related questions. I know I cannot tackle them all within a single PhD project. The challenge is making a conscious, defensible decision about where to draw the boundary around my study. What principles or criteria do experienced researchers use to justify these necessary exclusions to themselves and their committees?

 

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By Daniel Answered 2 months ago

This is a critical sign of scholarly maturity. I decide boundaries based on three practical pillars: feasibility (can I realistically answer this in 3-4 years?), core contribution (does this question directly illuminate my central thesis?), and resource accessibility (do I have the tools/data/access?). I have seen many projects falter by not saying "no." You justify exclusions by explicitly stating your study's delimitations: "This study examines X in order to understand Y; it does not address Z, as that would require a separate methodological approach and falls outside its primary focus." This shows strategic thinking.

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