For many students in IGNOU and IGNOU, the study of research becomes the most confusing aspect of their project. This is particularly true in the case of an ignou-mcom project where academic rigor is expected, yet guidance frequently feels limited. Students often ask if they must summarize books, revise journal articles, or simply gather quotes. In reality, there is a place between, and knowing that different perspectives can impact the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is NOT written to illustrate how much content you've read. It is written to show how well you know the literature that is relevant to the topic you're studying and how your project is a part of it. IGNOU examiners examine this chapter since it showcases your ability to connect concepts with research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before writing anything, it is crucial to understand why this chapter is necessary in an ignou mcom project. Literature review serves three main purposes.
First, it shows that the subject you chose has been previously studied and has a scholarly significance. Second, it helps you discern gaps or deficiencies in earlier research. In addition, it can provide an understanding of research objectives and methodology.
Students often view this chapter as a formality and duplicate content from previous projects or from online sources. This can result in lower marks or rejection of projects. IGNOU demands original writing even when addressing existing research.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn't expect students to write at the level of an PhD thesis. In the same way those who write merely to explain their ideas are too much to be avoided. If you are working on an ignou-mcom project the literature review must reflect understanding at postgraduate level.
You are expected to review books, research papers or reports, journals and sometimes government publications related in your research topic. The study should focus on topics related to the area of your study.
If, for instance, your project focuses on the financial health of banks In your literature review, you should include earlier studies about financial ratios efficiency of banks, profitability analyses, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
A common mistake that students make is selecting a lot of unrelated sources. More important is quality than quantity. If you are looking to build an ignou mcom business anywhere between fifteen and twenty powerful sources are generally enough if they are well chosen.
Good sources include academic journals reliable books from well-known authors RBI publishing, state reports and even university research papers. Websites that do not have clear authorship requirements should be avoided.
Always choose studies that are recent particularly those that have been published in the last ten years. Other studies from the past may be considered only if the studies are fundamental in way.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well organized chapter improves understanding and perception. Instead of writing random summaries, break up this literature summary into logical sections.
You could organize the chapter depending on the theme, the time period method, variables, or methodologies to be studied. For example, one section may focus on research studies related to profitability, another may focus on liquidity, and a third regarding operational efficiency.
This structure can help evaluators realize that you're not replicating content but are actually analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style should be straightforward but academic. Avoid heavy language and unnecessary terminology. IGNOU prefers simplicity over clarity.
The study you are discussing should be listed with the author's name, year of study, objective, methodology, as well as the major findings. Do not, however, list them in a formal manner. You should try to link one study with the other.
In the case of discussing one study, you may refer to how an author's findings were supported or opposed those findings. This method of comparison adds complexity to your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
One frequent error is writing the literature review as a textbook chapter. Basic concepts such as the definition of accounting or the meaning of management is not appropriate in this article unless they are directly linked to previous research.
Another mistake is excessive quoting. Your literature review should be written by you in the style of your personal words. This shows your understanding. the copying of your review shows dependency.
Students also forget to link study findings to their own topic. Each study you reference should be clearly linked to your goals for the project.
Interlinking Literature Review with Research Gap
One of most important results of a review of literature is to identify the research gap. IGNOU examiners are expecting you to show what earlier researchers missed or the areas in which further research is needed.
After having discussed a myriad of studies you may observe that most research focuses on large enterprises while smaller companies were ignored. In the past, studies utilized secondary data while primary data was not enough.
The gap in the picture is the reason for your project in the ignou mcom. Without it, the project might appear monotonous.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing the review of literature A proper citation is necessary. IGNOU generally recognizes APA style, however being consistent is more important than achieving perfection.
Every study to be discussed must be included in the list of references at the end of the study. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Avoid footnotes during a literature review. In text citation works better and is cleaner when used in an IGNOU MCOM project submission guide (esvc000614.wic059u.server-web.com) MCOM project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students often ask how long the book review needs to be. There's no set timeframe that can be followed, however for an mcom project, this chapter typically runs from fifteen hundred and two thousand words.
The length of the discussion should be based on topics' complexity. For a broad topic, you will need more research while a more narrowly-focused topic requires fewer but more extensive discussions.
Writing excessively long reviews without analysis is not going to improve your marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A researched the bank's performance and got good results
Write it like this
Write as this: Author A conducted a study about bank performance using financial ratios, and concluded that profitability improved due to improved asset management. The findings were later confirmed by Author B and Author B, who emphasised the role of operational efficiency in improving bank returns.
This approach is based on the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is a must in an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU is a firm believer in plagiarism. Many projects get blocked or rejected because of review of literature that has been copied. Even if your reference is to previously published studies, the style has to be distinctly yours.
Check for plagiarism using tools if possible. You can also rewrite your content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is more effective than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou MCOM project, reread the literature review carefully. Be sure to check if each study is relevant, if the flow is consistent, and whether it is linked naturally to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this section explain the reason why my research is important. If the answer is yes then you're on the correct path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou mcom project might be difficult at first particularly for those returning to school after a long hiatus. Once you realize that it's about analysis and connections rather than memorizing, the job is manageable.
Do your best to read, think, and write in your own voice. The effort you put into it will show clearly on your final product and frequently makes the difference between an average essay and a strong one.