In this blog, we will explore how to compose an efficient IGNOU Synopsis. In some courses of IGNOU, there is an option to undertake the Project Synopsis work as an optional course like MEC, MPA, MEGS, MSW, MPY, etc and same like that in some course of IGNOU, there is a compulsion to choose the Project Synopsis work as a compulsory subject like MTTM, MAPC, MLIS, MFNP, MAEDU, BTS, DNHE, MARD etc. In case if you choose the IGNOU Project work then you will be required to submit the IGNOU Synopsis first and after approval you will be required to submit the Project Report to the university before the deadlines of submission.
Project Synopsis work is an application oriented academic activity and aims to sharpen your theoretical and quantitative skills through their application in the light of theoretical knowledge gained while pursuing the various courses of IGNOU.
Now we will discuss about the best ways to compose a good IGNOU Synopsis.
IGNOU Synopsis
IGNOU Synopsis is a systematic plan, which brings to focus the prior planning that will be needed to achieve the objectives of the proposed IGNOU project. It is very much like blue print which a designer gets ready before the development of a structure. IGNOU Synopsis is a detailed document containing various aspects the report which you will be undertaking including a statement of the problem and its significance, formulation of hypothesis(es) (if any), the methods indicating the selection of sample(s) too(s), technique to be used in the collection and analysis of data and a detailed bibliography.
There are certain specifications that are essential for a good project report that must be included in the synopsis. Only a well-planned and well-designed strategy is likely to yield a worthwhile report. Let’s look at the different types of information that should be included in the IGNOU synopsis. The following details must be included in the IGNOU Synopsis:
1. The Title
The title of the Proposal must suggest the study’s theme and must actually put words to the issue. You should think about two things when choosing a title:
- The title does not include pompous words or phrases that are unscientific, rhetorical, emotional, or biassed in nature.
- The title should not be overly long or complicated. It should be based on the field of analysis.
The following title, for example, is simply worded and conveys detailed details about the study’s existence.
“Impact of Smartphone addiction on general health and self-esteem among adolescent.”
2. Introduction (Context and Justification)
The researcher briefly presents the problem in this section. This caption is often referred to as the “Background of the study” by some scholars. In summary, the entire study’s subject is briefly presented here. Some plans have a separate caption called ‘Rationale,’ whereas others have it in the Introduction.
You must include the following details in this section:
- The content must be written from well-known sources relevant to the research issue.
- It must also provide a brief overview of the problem’s current state.
3. The Significance of the Problem
A good Synopsis should state the importance and timeliness of the Project. The importance of the project conducted for research analysis can be demonstrated in a variety of ways.
It can be shown by demonstrating the time lapse between the previous research study and the current one; therefore, the new understanding, new experience, changed methods, or circumstances suggest the need to repeat the study. Another way to explain the need for a study is to present the supporting statements of other research studies to demonstrate the lack of knowledge about an issue.
4. The Statement of the Problem
The problem statement is not the same as the IGNOU Project title, but it is an extension of it, and it has a specific position in the synopsis’s introductory section. It explains the specified objective and offers guidance for the research process. The problem’s main statement can be broken down into smaller statements. To state a problem is to explain it in great detail and precision.
5. Research Objectives
The researcher will move aimlessly toward a worthwhile target if the goals are clearly established. The objectives serve as the basis for the research study, as they direct the entire research process. It is important to remember that the list of goals should not be too long or vague, but rather should be specified explicitly and in terms that are attainable. These targets are normally extracted from the research questions that the researcher has in mind.
6. The Hypothesis
Any research is conducted in order to address the researcher’s questions. Thus, the hypothesis is a conjecture or preliminary generalisation, formed by the effects of literature and logic derived from the empirical support of the under study problem. When the proposal is made, a preliminary description of the relationship between two or more variables takes the form of the formal affirmative statement predicting a single research result.
You state the hypothesis in affirmative form at the start of your research as a prediction of the outcome you want to evaluate. You must then restate the hypothesis in negative or null form during the statistical analysis of the observed results. As a result, a null hypothesis is a hypothesis that denies the existence of a relationship between the two variables under investigation.
7. Operational Definition of Terms
Many variables of interest in behavioural research are abstractions that cannot be observed directly, so they must be described in terms of measurable acts. Thus, an operational description gives a term sense by defining the operations that must be performed in order to measure the concept.
8. Research Design
A research design is more than just a work plan; it is a detailed description of what must be completed in order to complete the project. You may argue that research design is concerned with a conceptual problem rather than a logistical one. You must provide a brief overview of the following in this section:
- Type of study
- Population and the sample for the study
- Tools to be used
- Analysis Plan
- Delimitation of the study
In the following segment, we will go through each part in detail.
(a) Types of Research Study
You’ve also heard of descriptive research, experimental research, qualitative research, historical research, and philosophical research. In this section, you will decide the research method that you will use for the proposed analysis. The quality of the data and how it is treated will be determined by the process or type of analysis used. The essence of data and how it is treated in historical and philosophical study, for example, differs from experimental and descriptive research.
Some major types of the research studies are Historical Study, Descriptive Study, Comparative Study, Correlational Study, Developmental Study, Surveys, Qualitative Study, Ethnographic study, Experimental Study.
(b) Population and Sample of the Study
In statistics, the universe refers to the total number of items/units in the field of investigation, while the population refers to the total number of items from which the information is required. However, in order to conduct the study, you must first select a sample that is representative of the population using sampling techniques. There are two main types of sampling techniques: probability and non-probability. In this section, the researcher will identify the population from which the sample will be drawn as well as the method used to draw the sample. In addition, the size and composition of the sample rationale for selecting a sample
(c) Tool and Techniques of Data Collection
Research tools (also known as instruments) are used to gather data or calculate variables. You can either prepare it yourself or use standardised equipment. The researcher will explain the various tools that will be used for data collection in this section. If you are constructing the tool yourself, the process for tool construction should be defined briefly as well. You must also include details on the methods to be used for the research’s validity, reliability, and norms, among other items.
(d) Method of Data Analysis
In this section, the researcher should explain in detail the method that will be used to analyse the data. Depending on the nature of the data, you can use any type of analysis technique. You must explain the methodology used in your Synopsis. Also, the meaning of a specific technique to be used must be explained. The technique’s selection and application should be justified in terms of the study’s objectives.
(e) Delimitations
Because of time, money, and other constraints, you must limit your research in terms of;
- the study’s scope by defining the areas to which the conclusions would be limited; and
- the procedural treatment, which includes sampling procedures, data collection and analysis techniques, the development of measuring tools and their application in the study
(j) Bibliography
Synopsis should include a list of books, articles, and other documents that were used to classify and identify the issue and could be used during the project’s time. When preparing the bibliography, you must use the APA referencing style.
