For many students in IGNOU review, reviewing literature can be the most confusing aspect of the work. This is particularly true in the case of the ignou mcom course, where academic depth is expected. However, guidance often seems to be a little sluggish. Students typically ask if they are required to summarize books or amend journal articles, and simply take notes of quotations. The reality is somewhere between, and understanding that differences can affect the overall quality of the project.
A review of literature is not meant to display the quantity of information you’ve read. It’s written to demonstrate how well you comprehend the previous work that pertains to your area of study and how your project is integrated into it. IGNOU assessors scrutinize the chapter since it demonstrates your ability to link ideas with research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before beginning any writing, it is vital to understand the reason this section is part of an ignou mcom project. Literature reviews serve three essential functions.
It first shows that the subject you chose has been studied earlier in the academic world and is relevant to research. In addition, it allows you to find gaps or weaknesses in previous studies. Thirdly it helps you establish the foundation for your research goals and methods.
A lot of students view this chapter as a formality and take content from other projects or even from online sources. This can result in very low marks or projects being rejected. IGNOU requires original work even when presenting existing work.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn’t expect students to write at the level of the PhD thesis. On the other hand the use of very basic explanations is discouraged. For an ignou mcom project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate level understanding.
You’re required to read books, research papers journals, reports as well as government publications that are related to your subject. The concentration should be on the studies which are directly related to your research topic.
For instance, if the research is focused on the financial performance of banks, then your literature review must focus on earlier research in relation to financial ratios bank performance, profitability analysis, and risk assessment.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
A common mistake made by students is selecting too many non-related sources. Quality is more important than quantity. For an ignou mcom project roughly fifteen to twenty powerful sources are generally enough if they are well chosen.
Good sources include academic journals reliable books from well-known names, RBI books, public reports and even university research papers. Websites with ambiguous authorship should be avoided.
Always look for studies that are more recent and ideally, from the last 10 years. It is possible to include older studies only if they are foundational in nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter will improve quality of reading and impression. Instead of writing random summaries of the work, break down the literature review into sensible sections.
You can organize the chapter depending on the theme, the time period methods, or variables that are studied. For instance, one chapter may discuss studies related to the financial performance, while another may focus on liquidity and another focused on the efficiency of operations.
This structure helps evaluators understand that you’re more than just copying content. You are actually studying it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style should be simple and academic. Beware of a long, rambling style and unnecessary language. IGNOU values clarity over complexity.
Each study you discuss should include the name of its author, the year of study, the research objectives, methods, and major findings. It is not necessary to list the findings in a way that is purely mechanical. It is best to connect one study with another.
If you’re discussing some research, you might mention how another author supported the results or countered them. This approach of comparing studies adds the depth of your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
The most common error is writing the literature review like the textbook chapter. Explaining basic concepts such as what accounting is and the meaning of management isn’t appropriate here unless directly linked to other studies.
Another error is over-quoting. Your review of literature should be written by you in the style of your personal words. Writing in a paraphrase shows comprehension, whereas copying shows dependency.
Students may also not link study findings to their own study. The research you refer to should have a clear connection to the research goals.
Connection of Literature Review with Research Gap
One of most important outcomes of a review of literature is to identify the gap in research. IGNOU reviewers expect you to expose what researchers of the past missed or indicate where additional research is needed.
After discussing multiple studies, it’s possible that studies focus on large organisations while smaller companies were not considered. It is also possible that previous studies used secondary data, however primary data was not enough.
This void is the reason for your ignou mcom project. Without it, your plan could appear repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
In writing a review of literature the proper citation is crucial. IGNOU generally follows APA style, but it is more about consistency than perfection.
Each research study should be included in the list of references at the end of the project. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Avoid footnotes in literature reviews. The in-text citation is better and is more professional in an ignou MCOM project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of the reviews of books should last. There’s no standard rule to follow, but for an MCOM project, this chapter usually spans from fifteen cents at to two thousand.
The length should depend on your topic’s complexity. A broader topic requires additional research while a narrowly focused subject requires less but deeper discussions.
Writing excessively long reviews without an analysis won’t help marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing like this
Author A did a thorough study of the performance of the banking industry and came to positive results
Write as such
For example, author A performed a study examining the performance of banks using financial ratios and concluded that profitability improved because of better asset management. This was later validated by Author B and Author B, who emphasised the role of operational efficiency when it comes to improving returns to banks.
This strategy demonstrates an understanding and analysis that is what counts in an MCOM project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU MCOM project topics (2or.blogsky.com) takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects get refused or delayed because of copied literature reviews. Although you may refer to previous studies, the terminology should be unique to your project.
Use plagiarism checking tools if possible. Rewrite content until it sounds natural. A slightly imperfect sentence is much better than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou-mcom project, make sure you read the literature review thoroughly. You should determine whether the research is relevant, whether it flows in a logical manner, and whether the chapter is logically linked to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this article explain the reason why my research is important. If yes, your study’s literature reviews are on the right track.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou MCOM project could be daunting at first particularly for students returning to university after a gap. But once you understand that it is about analysis and connections rather than memorization of information, the task is easy to handle.
You should take the time to read, think and write in your personal voice. This is reflected on the final piece and frequently makes the difference between being a weak submission and an average one. outstanding one.