The scope of a study refers to the boundaries, extent, and focus of the research — in other words, what is included, what is excluded, and what the study aims to address.
📚 In academic terms, the scope defines:
✅ The subject or population studied
(e.g., patients with AVMs in precentral/postcentral gyri)
✅ The methods used
(e.g., MRI-based volumetric analysis with Vol2Brain, HIPS, and Ceres)
✅ The variables analyzed
(e.g., brain structure volumes, not cognitive performance or symptoms)
❌ What the study does not do
(e.g., does not test treatment outcomes, clinical correlation, or longitudinal changes)
⚠️ Why scope matters:
It helps readers understand the limits of the conclusions.
Prevents overgeneralization or misinterpretation of findings.
Clarifies whether the research is exploratory, descriptive, or interventional.
📌 In the AVM volumetric study:
The scope is limited to measuring and comparing brain volumes (via MRI) in patients with AVMs in sensorimotor cortex vs. healthy controls. It does not assess clinical symptoms, neuropsychological function, treatment outcomes, or causal mechanisms.