There are many students who enroll in IGNOU, the review of literature can be the most complicated portion of their work. This is especially the case when working on the ignou mcom course, in which academic depth is expected, yet guidance frequently appears to be limited. Students frequently ask if they must summarize books, make journal articles more readable, or simply collect quotes. The truth lies somewhere between, and understanding that a distinction could alter the overall quality of the project.
A review of literature is not a document that demonstrates how much information you've read. It's written to demonstrate how much you comprehend previous work that pertains to the topic of your choice and how you project is integrated into it. IGNOU evaluators look closely at this chapter, as it illustrates your ability to link knowledge with research directions.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before writing anything, is crucial to consider the reasons this section is part of an ignou mcom project. The literature review serves three main goals.
First, it demonstrates that the area you've selected was studied before and has a scientific significance. The second is that it assists you to identify gaps or limitations in earlier research. In addition, it can provide a base for your research objectives as well as your method of study.
Many students treat this chapter as a formality and copy content from their previous projects or online sources. This is a common practice that results in small marks or project failure. IGNOU demands original writing even when discussing the results of existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn't expect students to write on the scale of the PhD thesis. Additionally those who write merely to explain their ideas are discouraged. In an ignou project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate-level understanding.
It is expected that you read books, research papers journals, reports or even publications from the government that relate to the subject you are researching. The emphasis should be placed on studies related to your research field.
If, for instance, your project focuses on the performance of financials of banks and banks, then your literature search should focus on earlier studies related to financial ratios, profitability analysis of bank operations, performance in banking, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
One mistake that students often make is picking too many unrelated sources. Quantity is not as important as quality. When it comes to an ignou mcom project about fifteen to twenty good sources can be found should they be selected carefully.
The best sources are academic journals that are reputable, well-known books by famous the authors RBI publications, government reports, and university research papers. Websites with no authorship confirmation should be avoided.
Always look for studies that are more recent particularly those that have been published in the last 10 years. More recent studies can be added only if they're foundational in manner.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter enhances understanding and perception. Instead of writing random summaries, break up each literature overview into clear sections.
The chapter can be organized by theme, time period, methodology, or variables which are being studied. For instance, one chapter may examine studies that pertain to the financial performance, while another may focus on liquidity and the third concerning operational efficiency.
This structure aids in understanding that you're not simply copying content. You are actually studying it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style is to be professional but easy. Avoid a heavy use of language or unnecessary use of jargon. IGNOU values clarity over complexity.
Each study you discuss should include the author's name, year of study, objective, methodology, as well as main findings. Do not, however, list them in a linear manner. It is best to connect one study with another.
When you've discussed an article, you can refer to how an author's findings were supported or disputed those findings. This way of looking at comparisons adds complexity to your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common error is to compose the literature review as the kind of chapter in a textbook. Discussing fundamental concepts like the definition of accounting, or the meaning of management doesn't belong in this article unless they are directly linked with previous research.
Another issue is the overuse of quoting. Your literature review should be written in your own words. In the end, paraphrasing is an indication of understanding, while using copying can show dependency.
Students are also prone to not linking sources to their own research topics. Each study you discuss should be clearly linked to the objectives of your project.
Connection of Literature Review with Research Gap
One of important outcomes of reviewing the literature is to identify the research gap. IGNOU evaluations expect you to be able to demonstrate what prior researchers missed or indicate where additional research is required.
After examining a variety of studies, it's possible that studies were focused on large businesses, while small firms were neglected. Additionally, previous studies utilized secondary data but primary data were not sufficient.
This gap is the basis for your project in the ignou mcom. Without it, your plan could seem repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing the review of literature, proper citation is essential. IGNOU generally follows APA style, however coherence is more important than perfection.
Each study that is discussed should be included in the reference list at the end of the study. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Avoid footnotes during a literature review. In-text citations are more efficient and is cleaner when used in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of the length of their review on literature ought to run. There's no definitive rule however, for an ignou assignment in mcom, this chapter generally spans from fifteen to in length to 2500 words.
The length should be determined by topic complexity. A broad topic will require the most research, whereas a focussed topic requires less but more extensive discussions.
A review that is too long and without the ability to analyze them does not boost marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A looked into bank performance and came across positive results
Write as such
Write as this: Author A carried out a study on the performance of banks with financial ratios. He concluded that profitability increased thanks to better asset control. This finding was later supported by Author B who also emphasized the role played by operational efficiency in enhancing bank returns.
This approach displays understanding and analysis, which is essential to an MCOM IGNOU solved project (y.o.u.toh.a.n.g.k.ing.250@www.gpra.jpn.org) project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects get blocked or rejected because of plagiarism in literature reviews. Even if you refer to past studies, your language must be your own.
Use plagiarism detection tools if possible. You can also rewrite your content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is better than copied perfection.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou project, go through your literature review carefully. Make sure that each study is relevant, whether the flow is consistent and whether your chapter will naturally lead 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 your study's literature reviews are on the right path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature to complete an ignou mcom research project might be difficult at first especially for those who return to academics following a gap. Once you realize that it is focused on connection and analysis rather than memorization, the task is manageable.
Spend time reading, consider, and write in your personal voice. This dedication is clearly reflected on your final product and frequently makes the difference between your average work and a high-quality one.