Scopeafbakening

Scopeafbakening is the process of defining and delimiting the scope of a project, study, or policy analysis to establish its boundaries and focus. It clarifies what will be studied, who or what is included, where and when the work takes place, and which methods and outcomes are considered. The term is used in Dutch- and Norwegian-language planning and evaluation contexts and corresponds to the English concept of scope delimitation.

Key elements include the object of study, the population or system, the geographic and temporal boundaries, the variables or interventions, the planned outcomes, and the available resources such as time and budget. Distinguishing scope from delimitations helps separate the overall extent (scope) from deliberate exclusions (delimitations) chosen by researchers.

A typical process involves articulating the main aim and research questions, setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, defining setting, population, time frame, and methods, assessing feasibility, and documenting the scope with a clear rationale. Stakeholder review can help align expectations and prevent scope creep. The resulting definition guides methodology, sampling, data collection, and analysis.

Benefits include a focused approach, better alignment with resources, and clearer communication of what the work will cover. Pitfalls include overly broad or vague scope, excessive narrowing, or failure to revisit scope as the project evolves. Examples include a study delimiting to adult residents in an urban area within a specific year range, or a software project restricting scope to core features for a minimal viable product.