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Choosing the correct research design and method of data collection is among many of the most naive tasks for students working on their IGNOU project. Many students begin the ignou mcom proposal without fully understanding the kind of research they're actually undertaking. Therefore, the methodology section can appear uninspired, copied, or out of sync with the subject.
This article focuses only on how to select the most appropriate research design and data collection method for IGNOU MCom projects. It clarifies concepts using a simple language and links them with examples that students can implement them easily.
Research design acts like an outline of your research. It establishes the direction of your project. If the research methodology does not meet the criteria, everything that will follow data collection and conclusion will be questioned.
IGNOU does not anticipate complex or highly technical research designs. They are looking for alignment. Design should be in line with objectives, the topic and information availability.
Many students score low marks, not because their topic is bad in the first place, but due to their design does not align with the goals that they've expressed in their work.
Research design describes the type of study you are conducting. It is the answer to three essential questions.
What is being studied
and why is it being examined
What is being researched
For ignou's MCOM projects research design typically falls among the following classes.
This is the most frequently used design for IGNOU MCom projects. It is used for projects that seek to describe a specific situation, condition, or even a performance.
This design is appropriate for topics like.
Employee satisfaction
Customer perception
Financial performance analysis
Management of working capital
Impact of training on employees
In descriptive research it is not possible to alter variables. The research is focused on observing and describing existing facts.
Example explanation.
The study is based on an outline research method to evaluate the current financial situation of the company using relevant information.
This design is secure as well as accepted. It's also simple to prove in an MCOM project.
Analytical research methodology is used for research that goes beyond descriptions and attempts to investigate patterns of performance or relationships.
This design is ideal if your project includes.
Ratio Analysis
Research on trends
Comparative study among companies
Financial year wise evaluation
Many finance related ignou MCOM topics are based on analytical design and descriptive design.
Example explanation.
The study employs an analytic research design to examine the financial performance of the firm using ratio analysis and trend analysis.
This shows depth, but without sounding complicated.
Exploratory research design is employed when the topic is fresh or has not been clearly defined. It's less popular with IGNOU MCom projects but may be utilized in other areas such as.
Emerging business practices
Digital payment adoption
New accounting standards awareness
Example explanation.
The study is based on an exploratory approach to determine the perception of employees about current accounting practices.
Use this design only if your topic genuinely explores something new.
For the best design, ask yourself these questions.
Am I describing a present situation
Am I analyzing the performance or trend
Are I examining a new concept
If the answer is "description, go with descriptive design.
If it includes numbers or comparison and analysis, you should add an analytical design.
If it involves a deeper understanding of new ideas, choose exploratory design.
To be used for most ignou-mcom project submissions that are descriptive and analytical, these designs are more than adequate.
When the research concept is chosen The next step is making a decision on how data will be taken. Data collection method should support the research design.
IGNOU accepts primary and secondary data. What is important is honesty and clarity.
Primary data refers to data gathered straight by the researcher in their first attempt.
The most commonly used data tools are.
Questionnaire
Interview
Observation
Primarily-sourced data is helpful when you're working with opinions or perceptions.
Some examples of topics that would be suitable on the basis of primary data.
Employee satisfaction
Customer service quality
Investor perception
Training effectiveness
Many students use questionnaires but don't properly design them. IGNOU has not evaluated the questionnaire in depth, however it should appear appropriate and logical.
Guidelines for questionnaire design.
Keep questions short and simple
Do not use tech-speak.
Make sure you answer close-ended questions
Links questions to goals
Example description for methodology section.
Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire made up of open-ended questions, designed according to the objectives in the analysis.
Do not claim advanced survey techniques if they did not use them.
Interviews aren't very common but can be helpful for small-sample studies. It's a great option for case studies and for qualitative topics.
Example explanation.
Primary data was collected through individual interviews with employees in order to gain insight into their opinions about the subject.
Employ the interviewing method only if you actually interacted with respondents.
Secondary data refers to information already received by another. The use of secondary data is widespread in projects like ignou's mcom.
Sources of secondary information include.
Yearly reports, financials Books Research journals Company websites Government publications
Accounting and finance subjects mainly require secondary information.
Example explanation.
The study is based on secondary data from company annual reports, textbooks, journals, along with official web sites.
Secondary data is totally acceptable provided it is properly cited.
Students are often of the opinion that data from primary sources appears more attractive. That is not always true.
Select primary data whenever possible.
Your subject is a source of opinions or behaviors
You have access to a variety of respondents
Sample size is enough to handle the topic
Make sure to use secondary data.
Your topic is financial, or accounting-related.
This information is available from reports
This time is short
IGNOU does not penalize projects on the basis of secondary data. What matters is the correct analysis.
This design describes how the respondents or units were selected.
In the case of ignou's mcom project basic sampling techniques are enough.
The most convenient method of sampling is convenience sampling. popular method used by students.
Example explanation.
Convenience sampling method was adopted in order to pick respondents based upon accessibility and availability.

This is an accurate assumption and is recognized by IGNOU.
Random sampling might be mentioned when respondents were randomly selected.
Example explanation.
Random sampling method was used to choose respondents from a large population.
Make sure to use this only in the event that the selection occurred at random.
Size of the sample should be appropriate and controllable.
Common sample sizes of IGNOU Project MCOM projects range between 30 to 100 people who take part in surveys.
For financial studies, the size of the sample could refer to the number of years or the size of companies.
Example explanation.
The sample size consists of 50 respondents from a selected organisation.
Or
The study covers financial data of five consecutive years.
You should keep this in line with your analysis section.
The term "period of study" defines the duration of your research.
In the case of financial topics, indicate the financial years in detail.
For survey topics, specify the length of research.
Example.
The study spans three months during which data was gathered and then analyzed.
This shows planning and clarity.
A large number of submissions for projects to ignou suffer from mistakes that could be avoided.
Copying methodologies from the internet
using advanced terms without understanding
Inconsistency between objectives and methodologies
in claiming primary data, but without any evidence
Avoid these errors to improve your project quality.
IGNOU examiners look for.
Accuracy
The flow of logic
Relevance to the topic
Affirmative explanation
They don't have the expectation of perfect research. They require sincere effort.
A clear and simple procedure is usually more successful that a technical copy.
Always check your objectives prior to writing methodology. Each objective must be backed with a plan.
If the objective is to evaluate financial performance, mention percentiles.
If objective is to analyze employee satisfaction, use questionnaires.
This alignment gives a strong impression.
The choice of the best research design and data collection technique doesn't mean complexity. It's all about a sense of suitability. In an ignoumcom project simple decisions that are explained clearly can be the most effective.
Know your subject. Be honest about your data. Write in your own language. This alone can increase both scores and confidence.
