In the case of many students at IGNOU and IGNOU, the study of studies can be the most challenging element of the project. This is especially the case for those who are working on IGNOU’s mcom projects, where academic rigor is expected but guidance often isn’t clear. Students typically ask if they must write summaries of books, revise journal articles, or simply gather quotations. The reality lies somewhere in between, and understanding that differences can affect the quality of the entire project.
A literature review is not a report of the quantity of information you’ve read. It is written to show how much you comprehend previous work that pertains to the subject you are researching and how your project fits within it. IGNOU evaluaters pay close attention to this chapter due to your ability to connect theoretical concepts to research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before you begin writing any article, it is crucial to consider the reasons the chapter exists in an ignou mcom project. The literature review serves three major purposes.
First, it shows that the topic you selected has been previously studied and has academic significance. It also helps you recognize gaps or limitations in earlier studies. In addition, it can provide an overview of your research goals and methods.
A majority of students view this chapter as a formality and duplicate content from previous projects or online sources. This practice usually leads to lower marks or rejection of projects. IGNOU expects original writing even when addressing existing research.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn’t expect students to write on the scale of the PhD thesis. Additionally any explanation that is not basic is also not recommended. For an ignou master’s degree project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate-level understanding.
It is expected that you read research papers, books, journals, reports, as well as government publications that are related to your field of study. The concentrate should be on studies relevant to your research area.
In the case of example, if your project focuses on the financial health of banks the literature review should focus on prior research about financial ratios banking performance, profitability analysis, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
One common mistake students make is selecting too many unrelated sources. It’s more about quality than quantity. For a project in ignou in the range of 15 to 20 solid sources are typically enough as long as they’re carefully chosen.
Excellent sources include academic journals as well as reputable books by renowned the authors RBI publications, federal reports as well as university research papers. Websites that do not have clear authorship requirements should be avoided.
Always go for the most recent research at least from the last 10 years. The older studies may be included only if the studies are fundamental in their nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter increases perception and readability. Instead of composing short summaries that are not organized, divide each literature overview into clear sections.
You could organize the chapter by themes, time period methods, or variables that are studied. For instance, one section could focus on studies related profitability, whereas another might focus on liquidity, while another concerning operational efficiency.
This structure helps evaluators understand the difference between replicating content but are actually analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing must be formal but not abrasive. Avoid a lot of language and terminology. IGNOU places emphasis on clarity over complexity.
Each research study you write about should include the author name, the year of study, the purpose, method, and principal findings. But, don’t list them in a logical manner. Make an effort to link one study to another.
For instance, after discussing your findings from one study, write about how a different author’s research supported and/or refuted the findings. This sort of comparative approach will add greater depth to your project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common error is to write the literature review in the form of an academic chapter. Discussing fundamental concepts like how accounting works or the meaning of management do not belong in this article unless they are directly linked to studies that have been done previously.
Another error is overquoting. Your literature review should be written by you in individual words. Writing in a paraphrase shows comprehension, whereas copying demonstrates dependency.
They are also often unable to link literature with their own research issue. The research you refer to should have a clear connection with your research objectives.
Establishing a linkage Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the major outcomes of a review of literature is identifying the research gap. IGNOU assessors require you to identify what earlier researchers didn’t know or indicate where additional research is needed.
After examining a variety of studies, you’ll see that most research focused on large organizations, while small firms were neglected. Or that earlier studies used secondary data, while primary data was scarce.
This gap serves as the rationale for your project in the ignou mcom. Without it, your program could appear repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When writing a review of literature it is important to use a proper citation. IGNOU Project MCOM generally supports APA style, however consistent writing is more important than flawlessness.
Each study covered must appear in the list of references at the end of the study. A lack of references may raise doubts as to the study’s authenticity.
Do not use footnotes for literature reviews. Citations in text work better and appears more professional in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of an essay on literature should be. There is no set amount however, for an ignou MCOM project, the length of this chapter generally ranges from fifteen hundred up to two thousand words.
The length of the discussion should be based on topics’ complexity. A larger topic demands more study, while a more narrowly-focused topic requires fewer but more in-depth discussions.
Writing lengthy reviews that are not needed without analysis doesn’t improve scores.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing this way,
Author A did a thorough study of the performance of the banking industry and came to positive results
Write like this
An author conducted a study of the performance of banks using financial ratios. They concluded that profitability increased because of improved asset management. This conclusion was later validated by Author B in his study, who focused on the role of operational efficiency when it comes to improving bank returns.
This approach emphasizes understanding and analysis, which 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 copied literature reviews. If you do refer to previously published studies, the style ought to be uniquely yours.
Utilize plagiarism checking software if possible. Then, rewrite the content until it sounds natural. A slightly imperfect sentence is much better than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou project, go back through the review of literature carefully. Check whether each study is relevant, whether the flow is logical and whether the chapter is logically linked to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter give a rationale for what my study needs to be done. If yes, then your review on literature will be in the best track.
Closing Thoughts
Reviewing literature for an ignou MCOM project could be daunting at first particularly for students returning into academics after a time off. Once you realize that it’s all about connection and analysis rather than memorizing information, the task is easy to handle.
Do your best to read, think and write in your personal voice. Your effort is evident in your final product and can make the difference between two submissions: a standard one and a good one.