Which option correctly defines the scope of a study?

• A. The funding sources.
• B. The extent and boundaries of the study—the topics, variables, and time frame included.
• C. The sampling strategy.
• D. The data collection instruments.

Answer: (B)

Scope defines what the study will cover and what it will leave out. It sets the boundaries of the investigation—the topics or phenomena included, the variables measured, the population or setting, and the time frame. This is exactly what defines how broad or narrow the study is and what will be examined.

That’s why the option describing the extent and boundaries of the study—the topics, variables, and time frame included—best captures the scope. The other choices relate to resources or methods rather than the study’s defined boundaries: funding sources concern how the project is financed, the sampling strategy deals with who is chosen to participate, and data collection instruments are the tools used to gather information.