contextafbakening

Contextafbakening, or context delimitation, is a methodological concept used to specify the contextual frame within which data, statements, or phenomena are interpreted. It involves outlining the time, place, participants, social setting, culture, genre, and medium that define the background for analysis, and it sets explicit boundaries that separate the relevant context from external factors. The goal is to enhance interpretability, comparability, and validity by ensuring that findings are anchored in a defined context and that results are not inappropriately generalized beyond that context.

In research practice, contextafbakening begins with the research question and theoretical framework, followed by a description of boundary conditions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the specific variables considered as context. Researchers document these choices to allow replication and critical assessment. It is common in qualitative research, discourse and corpus analysis, ethnography, policy studies, and user experience research.

Steps typically involve: identifying the core phenomenon; determining relevant contextual dimensions (time, location, participants, culture, medium); specifying boundaries and the justification for them; applying boundaries in data collection and analysis; and periodically reviewing and adjusting if the research scope shifts. Challenges include the dynamic nature of context, the risk of over- or under-delimitation, and the potential for boundary choices to influence interpretation. Proper contextafbakening supports clear scope, transparent methods, and more reliable cross-case comparisons.