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1 year ago in Research Design By Seema

Are the clear objectives articulated using the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) framework?

I'm applying the PCC framework to shape my scoping review's objectives, but I find the lines between "Concept" and "Context" can blur. As a researcher, I want to ensure my application is rigorous and will hold up under methodological scrutiny, creating a focused yet comprehensive search strategy.

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By Anuj Patel Answered 1 year ago

I’ve guided many students through this. The key is to treat PCC not as a checklist but as a logic chain. Population is your participants/studies of interest. Concept is the core idea you’re examining within that population. Context is the situational backdrop (e.g., geographic, cultural, setting). I would recommend you draft your objectives as: “To map, in [Context], what is known about [Concept] for [Population].” This structure forces clarity and directly informs your search string.

 

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