Limitacions

Limitacions is the plural of limitació in Catalan, meaning constraints, restrictions, or boundaries that limit what can be done, known, or achieved. In general usage, limitacions describe factors that cap or hinder capabilities, performance, or outcomes. The term is used across disciplines to acknowledge the factors that shape results or possibilities.

In research and analysis, limitacions are acknowledged to represent weaknesses, uncertainties, or constraints that affect interpretation. Common examples include small sample sizes, selection bias, measurement error, lack of longitudinal data, and limited generalizability to other populations or contexts.

Limitacions can be categorized as methodological, epistemic, practical, ethical, or technological. Methodological limitations relate to study design; epistemic limitations concern limits to knowledge; practical limitations involve resources or time; ethical limitations involve norms or laws; technological limitations refer to the capabilities of tools or systems.

Examples include climate or ecological models constrained by resolution, artificial intelligence systems constrained by training data quality and bias, clinical trials constrained by participant availability, and engineering projects limited by materials or manufacturing processes.

Addressing limitacions involves transparent reporting, sensitivity analyses, triangulation of methods, replication, and planning for further research or development. By explicitly stating limitations, researchers and practitioners help readers assess validity, scope, and potential avenues for improvement or alternative approaches.