For a majority of students enrolled at IGNOU, the review of literature is often the most difficult aspect of their project. This is especially true for those working on an ignou mcom project, where academic rigor is expected, however guidance often isn’t as clear. Students often ask if they are required to summarize books or modify journal articles, or simply gather quotes. The reality lies somewhere in between, and knowing this distinction can alter the quality of the entire project.
A literature review is not meant to display the quantity of information you’ve read. It is written to show how well you comprehend the current research related to your subject and how your idea fits in with it. IGNOU reviewers are attentive to this chapter due to your ability to link concepts with research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before you begin writing any article, it is crucial to comprehend why this particular chapter is required in an ignou mcom project. Literature reviews serve three main functions.
It first shows that the topic you selected is a subject that has been studied previously and has a scientific significance. The second is that it assists you to detect gaps or deficiencies in earlier studies. Third, it provides the basis for your studies’ goals and research methodology.
Many students treat this chapter as a formality, and take content from other projects or even from online sources. This can result in negative marks or project rejection. IGNOU will require original content even when discussing previous studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn’t expect students to write on the scale of a PhD thesis. At the same time the use of very basic explanations is prohibited. For an ignou master’s degree project the literature review must reflect understanding at postgraduate level.
You’ll be expected to read research papers, books Journals, reports, and, sometimes, government publications relevant to your field of study. The emphasis should be placed on studies which directly relate to your research topic.
For instance, if your study is about the financial performance of banks, then your literature review will focus on prior studies on financial ratios, efficiency of banks, profitability analyses and risk assessment.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
The most common mistake students make is choosing too many different sources. More important is quality than quantity. If you are looking to build an ignou mcom business approximately fifteen to twenty good sources can be found should they be selected carefully.
These are good sources for academic journals popular books written by well-known writers, RBI publication, reports from the government, and university level research papers. Websites that don’t have a clear authorship must be avoided.
The best studies are those that are current, ideally from the last ten years. It is possible to include older studies only if they’re fundamental in the nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter increases perception and readability. Instead of writing random summaries and essays, you should divide an overview of literature into clear sections.
You may organize the chapter around themes, a time period as well as the methodology or variables researched. For instance, one chapter may examine studies that pertain to profitability, whereas a different section could focus on liquidity, and another focus on efficiency in operations.
The structure can aid evaluators in understanding the difference between copying content, but rather analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing should be simple but academic. Avoid using a lot of words and terminology. IGNOU favors clarity over complexity.
The study you are discussing should include the name of its author, year of study, objective, methodology, as well as significant findings. Don’t mention them mechanically. Do your best to link one study with the other.
For instance, following discussion of your findings from one study, write about how a different author’s research supported or contradicted those findings. This way of looking at comparisons adds greater depth to your project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common mistake is to write the literature review as the textbook chapter. A brief explanation of the most fundamental concepts, like the definition of accounting and the meaning of management is not appropriate in this section unless it is directly connected to studies that have been done previously.
Another mistake is excessive quoting. Your review of literature should be written by you in you own language. Writing in a paraphrase shows comprehension, whereas copying demonstrates dependency.
They are also often unable to link books to their own research focus. Every study you mention should have a clear connection to the goals of your project.
Connecting Literature Review with Research Gap
One of important outcomes of reviewing the literature is to identify the gap in research. IGNOU assessment committees expect you identify what earlier researchers didn’t know and where further research is required.
When you look over a range of studies you will notice that the majority of research was focused on large companies as small businesses were disregarded. Also, earlier studies employed secondary data, but the primary data was not as extensive.
This gap serves as the rationale for your initiative with ignou MCOM. Without this, your project could seem repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing a review for literature It is vital to have a correct citation. IGNOU MCOM project submission guide (new.heliport-shop.ru) generally supports APA style, but coherence is more important than perfection.
Each research study should be included in the list of references at the end of the study. Missing references create doubts about authenticity.
Avoid footnotes in literature reviews. In text citation works better and is more professional in an ignou MCOM project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students often ask how long their literature reviews should last. There’s no rule of thumb, but for an ignou assignment in mcom, this chapter usually ranges between fifteen hundred up to two thousand words.
The length should be determined by topics’ complexity. A more broad subject requires more studies, while a focused topic needs fewer but deeper discussions.
A review that is too long and without an analysis won’t help marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing this way,
Author A researched banking’s performance and obtained good results
Write as this
In the year A, Author B conducted a study about bank performance by using financial ratios. He concluded that profitability improved by a better management of assets. This result was later confirmed by Author B He emphasized the role played by operational efficiency when it comes to improving bank profits.
This method is based on an understanding and analysis that is what counts in an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism seriously. Many projects get deferred or even rejected due to review of literature that has been copied. Even if you cite other studies, your language needs to reflect your unique style.
Use plagiarism checking tools if possible, and modify content until it sounds natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is more effective than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou project, read the literature review attentively. You should determine whether the research is relevant, if the flow is rational and if it is linked naturally to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter provide a reason the reason for why I need to study it. If the answer is yes then that literature study is in the right path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a literature review for an ignou MCOM project can be a challenge at first particularly for students who are returning to academics following a gap. But once you understand that it’s more about connecting and analysis than recitation, the challenge becomes doable.
Read, think, and write in your personal voice. This is reflected on the final piece and often can be the difference in an average essay and a well-crafted one.
