Step-by-Step Procedure
his guide walks you, step-by-step, through everything needed to complete the IGNOU MPAP-002 project — from choosing a topic to final submission. It’s written in plain language, includes a realistic timeline, chapter-by-chapter writing advice, formatting and referencing tips, common mistakes to avoid, and a final submission checklist.
Why this guide matters
MPAP-002 is the project module where you get to use public administration theory on actual problems. A planned project saves time, lessens stress, and enhances the quality of your end submission. Read this step-by-step guide to finish the entire project in a professional, systematic manner — even if it is your first research project.
Main focus keywords: MPAP-002, IGNOU MPAP-002, MPAP-002 project report, Public Administration project.
Fast summary — the 9 key steps
- Familiarize with course requirements & deadlines
- Select a specific, realistic topic
- Write an explicit research proposal (title, problem, objectives, methods)
- Carry out a targeted literature review
- Plan research method, sampling, instruments
- Gather data (field, survey, interview, document)
- Analyze data and draw conclusions
- Draft the report chapter-by-chapter and lay it out
- Edit, check plagiarism, submit and follow up
Before you begin — essentials to verify
- MPAP-002 instructions provided by IGNOU/study centre (format, word limit, mode of submission).
- Mark the deadline and mode of submission (hard copy / soft copy / portal).
- Obtain contact information of your project guide/supervisor and the study centre.
- Plan your timeline (8–12 weeks usual if you have other work/studies).
- Create account/access to literature sources (Google Scholar, JSTOR, library).
Pro tip: Inquire early from your assigned guide if you have one — their nod of approval on topic and approach will be a time-saver later.
Step 1 — Select a specific, viable topic (How to make the choice)
A good topic is particular, researchable within a given time/resource, and pertinent to public administration.
How to choose:
- Begin from practice: topical issues in a municipality, department, NGO, or public policy.
- Focus: prefer one institution or one program instead of an entire state or country.
- Test questions: Can I gather data? Is there a limited scope (e.g., one city, one department)? Do there exist measurable outcomes?
- Match to your interest and access — you’ll work more regularly if you can access documents or respondents.
Topic checklist
- Limited area (e.g., urban sanitation program in X city)
- Unambiguous unit of analysis (e.g., municipal administrators, beneficiaries)
- Realistic timeframe and resources
Sample topic shapes
- “Determinants of beneficiary satisfaction with the Jan Bhagidari scheme in X municipality”
- “Impact of e-governance services on enhancing service delivery in Y district”
- “Determinants of employee motivation in Z municipal corporation”
Step 2 — Develop a research proposal (what to include)
Your proposal is a brief roadmap (2–4 pages). It clarifies purposes and allows your supervisor to vet the plan.
Proposal structure
- Working title (brief & concise)
- Background / Rationale (why research this; practical importance)
- Problem statement (single sentence summarizing the gap)
- Research objectives (3–4 measurable targets)
- Research questions / Hypotheses (as necessary)
- Methodology summary (strategy, sample, tools)
- Expected outcome / Contribution (what you will demonstrate or clarify)
- Timeline (concise week-by-week plan)
- References (2–4 key sources)
Sample objective format
- To examine the level of beneficiary awareness of the scheme.
- To identify administrative bottlenecks in service delivery.
- To suggest practical recommendations for improving outreach.
Keep it crisp. Your guide should be able to approve it quickly.
Step 3 — Conduct a focused literature review
A literature review shows you’ve read what others did and positions your work.
How to do it quickly but well
- Google Scholar, library gateways, government documents, and scholarly journals search keywords.
- Rapidly scan abstracts first — highlight relevant papers.
- Make use of a reference manager (Zotero, Mendeley) to store citations.
- Structure themes, not summaries: what do studies reveal regarding governance, implementation, citizen satisfaction, accountability, etc.?
- Determine the gap your project bridges.
Literature review structure
- Intro paragraph (scope and search strategy)
- Thematic subsections (3–5 themes)
- Back to your research question (gap statement)
Tip: Add local government reports, white papers, official statistics — they support applied public administration projects.
Step 4 — Research design & methodology (unambiguous and suitable)
Select methods to suit your goals and what you have access to.
Method choices
- Quantitative: Surveys, systematic questionnaires — suitable for measuring extent, satisfaction, correlation.
- Qualitative: Interviews, focus groups, observations — useful for grasping perceptions, bottlenecks, reasons.
- Mixed-methods: Use both together for more in-depth understanding (popular in public administration).
Sampling
- Clarify population (e.g., recipients of X scheme in Y ward).
- Select sample size sensibly (e.g., 100–300 survey respondents for simple ones; 10–20 in-depth interviews).
- Sampling approach: purposive (for important informants), random/systematic (for general recipients).
Instruments
- Draft questionnaire/interview guide.
- Pilot test on 5–10 individuals to ensure clarity.
- Refine prior to full implementation.
Ethics
- Obtain consent in writing or recorded verbal consent.
- Ensure confidentiality and anonymise data if required.
Step 5 — Data collection (effectively and ethically)
Organise fieldwork in advance to prevent delays.
Steps
- Create a schedule and booking plan for interviews/surveys.
- Bring printed consent forms/participant information.
- Utilize digital tools (Google Forms, KoboToolbox) to collect survey data and prevent manual entry errors.
- Maintain a field diary — record observations not in numbers (context is important).
- Back up data daily.
Shared field problems & solutions
- Non-response: give plain instructions, follow up respectfully.
- Language barriers: use local language versions of the questionnaire.
- Permission delays: obtain written permission early from municipal offices.
Step 6 — Analysis & interpretation of data
Analysis must be appropriate to research design and objectives.
Quantitative analysis (if utilized)
- Clean the dataset (drop duplicates, manage missing values).
- Apply descriptive statistics: mean, median, frequency tables.
- Apply cross-tabulation to investigate relations.
- If required, straightforward inferential tests (chi-square, t-test) — only if you anticipated them.
Qualitative analysis (if applied)
- Transcribe interviews (brief, precise).
- Theme-code responses (open coding → axial coding).
- Use quotes sparingly to support key findings.
Mixed methods
- Report quantitative outcomes, and then use qualitative findings to provide the “why”.
Interpretation
- Re-make linkages from findings back to research questions and literature.
- Do not over-claim — be clear about limitations.
Step 7 — Writing the report (chapter-by-chapter)
Organize your report logically, chapter by chapter. Below is a typical format — modify to IGNOU requirements if there are specific guidelines.
Suggested word distribution (for a concise academic project):
- Abstract: 200–250 words
- Chapter 1 (Introduction): 600–800 words
- Chapter 2 (Literature review): 800–900 words
- Chapter 3 (Research design & methods): 600–800 words
- Chapter 4 (Data analysis & interpretation): 900–1,200 words
- Chapter 5 (Findings, conclusions & recommendations): 700–900 words
- References and Appendices: as required
Title page (sample items)
- Project title (centre)
- Student name, enrollment number
- Programme: MPA / MAPA (where applicable)
- Course code: MPAP-002
- Study Centre and regional centre
- Guide/supervisor name
- Month & year of submission
Certificate (sample wording)
This is to certify that the project entitled “____” submitted to Indira Gandhi National Open University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Public Administration) is a record of the bonafide work done by ____ under my guidance. (Signature of Guide, Date, Seal)
Acknowledgements
Brief, heartfelt thanks to guide, respondents, institutions.
Contents and list of tables/figures
Create automatically using Word’s TOC feature.
Chapter 1 — Introduction
- Background and context
- Statement of the problem
- Objectives and research questions
- Significance of the study
- Scope and limitations
- Structure of the report
Chapter 2 — Literature review
- Thematic review, critically synthesizing past work
- Theoretical framework (if any)
- Gap identification
Chapter 3 — Methodology
- Research design (approach and rationale)
- Population, sampling, sample size
- Data collection tools & pilot testing
- Data analysis methods
- Ethical considerations
Chapter 4 — Data analysis & results
- Display results clearly (tables, charts — caption and number them)
- Interpret findings in relation to objectives
- Use subheadings to make clear
Chapter 5 — Discussion, conclusions & recommendations
- Condense key findings into plain points
- Explain implications for policy/practice
- Offer practical, specific recommendations (who should do what)
- Declare limitations and proposals for further research
References & Appendices
- Alphabetical list of all sources referenced (standard style used).
- Appendices: questionnaires, interview schedules, raw tables, permissions.
Step 8 — Referencing, formatting & final checks
Formatting and plagiarism checks are vital before submitting the work.
Formatting — frequent, safe options
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt (headings in 14 pt bold)
- Line spacing: 1.5 for body; single for block quotes or tables if necessary
- Margins: 1 inch (2.5 cm) all sides — refer to your study centre guidelines
- Page numbers: bottom centre or bottom right (uniform)
- Table/figure captions: Numbered and put either above (tables) or below (figures)
- Binding: according to submission guidelines
Referencing style
- Standard choices: APA (6th/7th), Harvard, or as IGNOU mandates.
- Citation manager suggested (Zotero/Mendeley) — easily export a reference list.
Plagiarism & proofreading
- Plagiarism check (Turnitin or any other) — maintain similarity within the acceptable level (refer IGNOU policy).
- Proofread at least twice: content accuracy and grammar. Read aloud sections using readability software and note awkward phrases.
- Verify tables, figure captions, and cross-references.
Step 9 — Submission & follow-up
Before submission
- Recheck study centre project guidelines (soft copy vs hard copy).
- Make sure your guide’s signature and certificate (if applicable) accompany it.
- Include any forms that need to be submitted (covering letter, submission form).
- Retain copies of all of it (PDF + original Word document + data).
Submission day
- Submit on time and record the receipt number.
- Email or retain scanned copy of receipt of submission.
After submission
- Maintain lines of communication with your guide for return of work.
- If corrections are called for, reply fast and resubmit as directed.
Common errors & how to prevent them
- Too large a topic: Define it as a workable unit of analysis.
- Poorly constructed instruments: Pilot test and refine.
- Weak literature review: Don’t summarize — synthesize and connect to your gap.
- Overladen methodology: Choose one or two sound methods you can do justice to.
- Format errors: Employ Word styles and auto-TOC to minimize errors.
- Missing certificates/permissions: Apply for them in good time.
- High plagiarism score: Properly paraphrase and cite all sources.
8-week sample timeline (practical schedule)
Week 1: Complete topic, prepare and submit proposal to guide.
Week 2: Literature review and complete instruments.
Week 3: Pilot test the questionnaire/interview guide — revise instruments.
Week 4–5: Fieldwork / data collection.
Week 6: Clean data and preliminary analysis.
Week 7: Finish chapters 1–3 and write draft analysis (Chapter 4).
Week 8: Complete chapters, references, appendices; plagiarism check; submit.
Update this timeline if you have extra time or encounter delays. If fieldwork requires permissions, include 1–2 weeks for approvals.
Quick checklist (final pre-submission)
- Title page and certificate present
- Acknowledgement and TOC included
- Chapters finished and logically organized
- Tables and figures labelled and numbered
- References formatted throughout
- Appendices included (questionnaire, permissions)
- Plagiarism check completed and similarity acceptable
- Guide’s signature/approval (if necessary)
- Receipt of submission saved
Helpful tools & resources
- Reference managers: Zotero, Mendeley
- Survey tools: Google Forms, KoboToolbox
- Statistical tools: MS Excel, SPSS (where available)
- Transcription: Otter.ai (or manual transcription)
- Plagiarism checkers: Turnitin, iThenticate, free options for rapid checks
Last-minute tips — the little things that make a big difference
- Write in plain, direct language — examiners appreciate clarity.
- Organize with headings and subheadings for flow of the reader.
- Get specific about recommendations (who does what, by when).
- Make the report honest regarding limitations — that is academic maturity.
- Back up all documents in more than one location and retain raw data at least for one year.
Conclusion
Completing MPAP-002 is a set of straightforward steps: select an achievable topic, have your proposal accepted, adhere to a coherent plan of data collection, analyze thoughtfully, and report findings in a clear and actionable manner. Schedule your time, maintain open communication with your mentor, and adhere to submission and formatting guidelines. If you do these consistently, you’ll complete with a nicely written project report.