사이트 로그인
Choosing the right research design and the method of collecting data is one of the most difficult tasks for students who have to complete their IGNOU project. Students often begin writing the ignou mcom proposal without realizing what research they're actually conducting. This is why it appears as if the methodology is uninspired, copied, or out of touch with the topic.
This article will focus on the process of selecting an appropriate research plan and data collection technique that is suitable for IGNOU MCom projects. It will explain concepts in a straightforward language and links them to examples so that students are able to use them immediately.
Research design is a blueprint for your study. It lays out the course of your project. If the research concept is flawed, everything that begins with data collection and analysis and conclusion is questioned.
IGNOU doesn't expect complicated or highly technical research plans. What they are looking for is alignment. The design should match your goals, topics, and accessibility of information.
Students often lose marks not just because their content isn't good however, their style does not align with the goals they've stated in their essay.
Research design provides the details of what kind of study you are conducting. It answers three basic questions.
What is being studying?
to determine why it's being examined
What is being studied
In ignou's project work, research design usually falls under one of the following types.
The Descriptive Research Design is one of the most commonly employed design in IGNOU MCom projects. It is used in cases where the purpose is to describe a specific situation, condition, or even a performance.
This design is suitable for topics such as.
Customer satisfaction
Personal perceptions of customers
Analyzing financial performance
Management of working capital
The impact of training on employees
In descriptive research The researcher is not allowed to manipulate variables. The research is focused on studying and describing the existing facts.
Example explanation.
The study follows the pattern of a descriptive research study for analyzing the present financial position of the selected company based upon relevant data.
This design is safe, accepted, and easy justification in an ignou mcom project.
Analytical research is a method of study when the research goes beyond description and attempts to analyse patterns of performance or relationships.
This design is ideal when your project includes.
The ratio analysis
Analyse of trend
Study of comparison between companies
Financial year-to-year evaluation
Many finance related ignou mcom project topics use analytical design as well as descriptive design.
Example explanation.
The study uses an analytical research approach to assess the financial performance of the business using trend analysis and ratios.
This shows depth but isn't complicated.
Exploratory research design is used when the topic is unknown or has not been defined clearly. It is not as common on IGNOU MCom projects but may apply to areas like.
Emerging business practices
Digital payment adoption
New accounting standards awareness
Example explanation.
The study follows an exploratory approach to investigate the awareness of employees about recent accounting practices.
Use this design only if your subject truly explores something new.
To choose the correct design Ask yourself these questions.
Do I want to present an existing situation
Do I look at performance or trends
Are I examining an idea that is new to me?
If the answer is "description it is best to go with descriptive designs.
If it involves numbers and comparison, add analytical design.
If it is about understanding new ideas consider exploratory designs.
For the vast majority of ignou mcom project submissions the descriptive and analytical design are more than sufficient.
After deciding on the research design Next step is selecting the way in which data is taken. The method you choose for data collection must complement your research idea.
IGNOU permits primary as well as secondary data. What matters is honesty and clarity.
Primary data are data that is collected at the point of collection by researchers for the first.
The most commonly used data tools are.
Questionnaire
Interview
Observation
Primary data is important whenever your project requires opinions or perceptions.
Examples of subjects that can be used for data that is primary.
Employee satisfaction
Customer service quality
Investor perception
Training effectiveness
Most students fill out questionnaires but don't design them correctly. IGNOU is not evaluating the questionnaire to its fullest extent, however it should appear appropriate and logical.
Guidelines for questionnaire design.
Make questions easy to understand
Do not use technical language
Make sure you answer close-ended questions
Questions should be linked to objectives
Example description for methodology section.
Primary data was collected through an organized questionnaire comprised of close ended questions designed according to the goals to be studied.
Don't claim advanced survey methods if the method you used did not apply them.
Interview method is not widely used but can be beneficial for smaller-scale studies. It's a great option for case research and qualitative topics.
Example explanation.
Primary data was gathered through individual interviews with employees in order to gain insight into their opinions about the topic.
Use interview method only if that you had actual interaction with respondents.
Secondary data is data already taken by another. It is commonly used in projects like ignou's mcom.
Secondary data sources include.
annual reports financial statement Books Research journals Company websites Government publications
Accounting and finance topics typically are dependent on secondary data.
Example explanation.
The research is based on secondary data gathered from companies' annual reports as well as textbooks, journals also official portals.
Secondary data is completely acceptable provided that it is cited correctly.
Students often think primary data has a better appearance. It's not always so.
Select the primary data source when.
Your topic involves opinions or behaviors
You are able to speak to participants
The size of the sample is enough to handle the topic
Choose secondary data when.
Your topic is either financial or accounting related.
It is possible to access data in reports
But time is limited
IGNOU does not penalize projects based on secondary data. What is important is proper analysis.
The sampling design explains how respondents or units were chosen.
For projects like ignou's mcom with simple sampling techniques enough.
Convenience sampling is among the most often used method of student.
Example explanation.
A convenient sampling technique was employed for selecting respondents based on availability and accessibility.
This is the truth and has been accepted by IGNOU.
Random sampling could be used when respondents were chosen randomly.
Example explanation.
Random sampling technique was employed to choose respondents from a large population.
This only applies if the choice was really random.
Sample size should be reasonable and doable.
The typical sample sizes for IGNOU projects range from 30 to 100 respondents for surveys.
For financial studies, the size of the sample could refer to the number years or even companies.
Example explanation.
The sample size is 50 people who are part of the company.
Or
The study includes financial information of five consecutive years.
Follow this with respect to your analysis section.
The duration of your study determines the period of time you will conduct your research.
In the case of financial topics, indicate the financial year in a clear manner.
For survey topics, specify the length of gathering data.
Example.
The period of study covers three months of time during which data was collected and analyzed.
This shows planning and clarity.
Many ignou project submissions suffer from mistakes that could be avoided.
Copying methodology from the internet
using terms and concepts that are advanced without understanding
Mismatch between objectives and the methodology
using primary data without proof
Beware of these mistakes and improve the quality of your work.
IGNOU evaluators look for.
Accuracy
Clarity
Connects to the subject
Truthful explanation
They don't expect flawless research. They are looking for genuine effort.
Simple and well explained procedure is usually more successful than a copycat technical approach.
Be sure to read your objectives prior to creating your methodology. Every objective must be supported with a plan.
If objective is to analyze financial performance, highlight numbers.
If objective is to examine employee satisfaction, use questionnaires.
This alignment makes a powerful impression.
Selecting the right research plan and data collection methodology has nothing to do with complexity. It's about a good fit. For an ignou MCOM project work IGNOU (visit website) project simple and clear choices are most efficient.
Get to know your subject. Keep your data honest. Write your thoughts in your own words. It can boost both marks and confidence.