All research is limited in several ways - there are:
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Internal or Formal limitations
- The materials and procedures used, leading to issues of reliability and validity
- The ways in which critical terms are defined
- The scope of the problem explored
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The applicability, or generalizability of any results
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External limitations
- Constraints on time, scope, and budget
- Limitations on travel to particular locations, such as special collections, museums, or libraries
- An inability to speak or read about results in other languages
- Changes in current situations, such as an evolving political situation beyond a certain date
These types of limitations should be acknowledged; indeed, identifying them may help you to focus your topic
For more detail on the types of limitations typically encountered in your discipline, please refer to the appropriate discipline-specific area located on this page.