The Most Common Mistakes Students Make
By AcademicVox.com
Introduction
Completing the MJMP-20 Project under the IGNOU MA in Journalism and Mass Communication (MAJMC) program is one of the most significant milestones in a student’s academic journey. It is not just an assessment; rather, it reflects upon your understanding of journalism theories, research methods, and media practices.
However, hundreds of students each academic session face delays, rejections, or low marks in their MJMP-20 project because of avoidable mistakes. The pitfalls range from the choice of inappropriate topics to the wrong methods of data collection.
This guide from AcademicVox.com intends to help you avoid those errors if you are about to start or are working upon your MJMP-20 project. Further, we will break down the most frequent mistakes IGNOU students make along with clear, actionable solutions that will help you craft a polished, high-quality, and approval-ready MJMP-20 report.
Understanding the MJMP-20 Project
Before going into the mistakes, let’s understand what MJMP-20 project expects from you.
The MJMP-20: Project in Journalism and Mass Communication is a compulsory component of the MAJMC program at IGNOU. It’s designed to help students apply academic concepts in real-world media issues through research and analysis.
Objectives of the MJMP-20 Project
- To develop independent research and analytical skills.
- Encouraging students to apply theories of journalism and mass communications.
- To explore practical problems in news, media, PR, or communication:
- To prepare learners for professional media and academic research roles.
Your final report typically ranges between 8,000 and 10,000 words, and includes:
- A research topic along with synopsis (approved by IGNOU)
Data collection is done through surveys, interviews, or content analysis. - Analysis, findings, and conclusion.
- Proper formatting, referencing, and certification by a guide.
Now let’s reveal the most common mistakes students make—and how you can avoid them.
1. Choosing an Overused or Irrelevant Topic
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Many students choose topics that are too general or outdated, like “Impact of Social Media on Youth” or “Role of Television in Society.” These subjects are not only overdone but often lack a specific focus or fresh perspective.
Why It’s a Problem
It makes the project less original.
- New research angles become difficult to find.
- Lack of originality might get the synopsis rejected.
- Evaluation committees prefer contemporary and well-defined topics.
How to Avoid It
Choose a topic which reflects current trends in either journalism, digital media, or communication ethics.
Narrow down your focus. Instead of “Impact of Social Media,” try “Influence of Instagram Reels on Political Awareness Among Urban Youth.”
Check previous year projects published by IGNOU for similar ideas.
Align your topic with your personal interest-motivation increases research quality.
2. Weak or Incomplete Synopsis Submission
Error
Too many students rush their synopsis or project proposal and submit badly stated objectives, indefinite methodologies, and poorly written rationales.
Why It’s a Problem
The synopsis is the foundation for your project. IGNOU will not let you start your main project without an approved synopsis. And if it is incomplete or unstructured, it is sure to get rejected, and unnecessary delays may be caused.
How to Avoid It
Write a well-organized synopsis including:
- Title (specific, clear, and researchable)
- Introduction and Rationale
Objectives of the Study
- Research Questions or Hypothesis
- Methodology: Data type, tool(s) used, sample size
- Expected Outcomes
Keep it around 800–1,000 words and ensure language clarity.
Seek feedback from your supervisor before submitting.
Grammar, formatting, and alignment as per MJMP-20 guidelines by IGNOU.
3. Poor Research Design and Methodology
The Bug
Many students use vague or incorrect research designs, mixing qualitative and quantitative methods randomly or collecting irrelevant data.
Why It’s a Problem
The research design determines the reliability and validity of your project. If your methodology is flawed, your findings won’t make sense.
How to Avoid It
Understand your research type:
- Employ quantitative methods for surveys, audience analysis or other data driven topics.
- Employ qualitative methods in interviews, content analysis, or case studies.
Clearly define:
- Sample size and selection criteria.
Data collection tools include questionnaires, interviews, and observation.
- Data analysis method SPSS, thematic analysis, coding.
Let your method be appropriate for your aims: If you want to research perceptions, do not collect just numbers; study the narratives.
4. Copy-Pasting from Online Sources (Plagiarism)
The Error
Many of the MJMP-20 projects are rejected or downgraded due to plagiarism issues. Students tend to copy stuff from Google, online reports, or previously submitted IGNOU projects.
Why It’s a Problem
IGNOU uses plagiarism detection tools, and a similarity rate above 20–25% might lead to disqualification or demands for revision.
How to Avoid It
Write in your own words—paraphrase ideas without copying exact phrases.
Use proper citations (APA 7th Edition) for all references.
Avoid downloading available MJMP-20 projects online by:
Use Turnitin or Grammarly Premium to check plagiarism before submission.
Remember, originality reflects your learning and builds credibility.
5. Lack of Clear Research Objectives
The Error
The objectives given by students are mostly broad or overlapping, like, “To study the impact of social media on people.” These objectives are too broad and immeasurable.
It’s a problem, and here’s why:
Without specific objectives, your research has no focus. You will not know what to measure and the analysis will be scattered.
How to Avoid It
Limit objectives to 3–5 concise points.
Make sure they are specific, measurable, and achievable.
Example:
- To assess the influence of digital influencers on news credibility.
- To analyze audience trust in short-form news videos.
Each objective should lead to a corresponding research question or finding.
6. Ignoring Feedback from Supervisors
The Error
Most students usually consider the supervisor’s role as a mere formality and avoid their recommendations.
Why It’s a Problem
The project guide or supervisor will help you in enhancing your topic, methodology, and writing skills. Neglecting a supervisor’s suggestions often results in rejection or low grading.
How to Avoid It
Treat your supervisor as a mentor: schedule regular updates with them.
Incorporate feedback after every draft.
Keep records of communications for accountability.
Acknowledge their contribution in the preface of your report.
7. Inconsistent or Irrelevant Data Collection
The Error
Students often collect data from random respondents or fail to reach the required sample size.
Why It’s a Problem
Poor sampling can make your research unreliable and non-representative. Evaluators seek authentic data collection practices.
How to Avoid It
Define your target population clearly.
Use random sampling when possible to reduce bias.
Keep the data authentic, avoiding fake responses.
Present information in tables or charts that are clean, using Excel or SPSS.
Verify consistency among raw data and analyses.
8. Poor Presentation and Formatting
The Error
Even strong research loses marks for sloppy formatting, missing sections, or inconsistent citation styles.
Why It’s a Problem
MJMP-20 is a formal academic report. Presentation errors indicate carelessness and reduce readability.
How to Avoid It
Follow the structure as prescribed by IGNOU :
- Title Page
- Certificate by Supervisor
- Declaration
- Acknowledgment
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Objectives and Rationale
- Methodology
- Data Analysis and Findings
- Conclusion and Recommendations
- Bibliography (APA Style)
- Appendices
Use consistent font (Times New Roman, 12 pt), line spacing (1.5), and page numbering.
Include visuals, graphs, or tables where applicable.
9. Missing Deadlines or Submitting Incomplete Reports
The Bug
Some students underestimate the time required for research; consequently, this might lead to hasty submissions or omission of sections like analysis or references.
Why It’s a Problem
Late or incomplete submissions automatically lead to failure or carryover to the next term.
How to Avoid It
Plan your project timeline early:
- Week 1–2: Selection of topic and synopsis
- Week 3–4: Approval and design
- Week 5–8: Data collection
- Week 9–10: Analysis and writing
Keep a copy of your report
Keep all documents—approval letters, guide certificate, and raw data—safe for submission.
10. Weak Conclusion and Lack of Practical Implications
The Error
Students often write very general conclusions that simply restate findings without connecting those findings to real-world applications.
It is a problem because
Your conclusion is where you show the impact of your study. A vague or short conclusion weakens your whole report.
How to Avoid It
Summarize key findings clearly.
Discuss how your study contributes to journalism or communication practice.
Suggest practical applications or policy recommendations.
Example:
The results suggest that “News organizations should train editors to verify the content created with AI to uphold ethical standards.”
11. Neglecting Ethical Considerations in Research
The Error
Examples include projects that involve data collection without consent or citing personal opinions without permission.
Why It’s a Problem
Collection of data in an unethical manner is a violation of academic integrity and the research standards of IGNOU.
How to Avoid It
Always take informed consent from participants.
Keep data confidential.
Use pseudonyms or anonymity for respondents.
Cite only publicly available information or authorized interviews.
12. Not Reviewing Relevant Literature
The Error
Skipping the literature review section is one of the most common mistakes. Many students either ignore it or just summarize random articles.
Why It’s a Problem
A strong literature review indicates that you know the background of the research that has been done previously on your topic and helps to support your topic.
How to Get Around It
Review at least 10–15 credible sources — academic papers, books, or media reports.
Summarize what others have said and identify the research gap your study fills.
Use appropriate citations and relate prior results to your own goals.
13. Poor Data Analysis and Interpretation
The Error
Often, students either present raw data without any analysis or fail to explain what the findings mean.
Why It’s a Problem
Evaluation committees want you to interpret the data, not simply show them numbers or quotes.
How to Get Around It
Present findings using charts, graphs, and thematic summaries.
Analyze trends, correlations, or patterns.
Discussion of what the data reveals about your research questions.
Support the analysis with references from literature.
14. Ignoring the Language and Grammar Quality
The Error
The report does not come off as professional because of spelling mistakes, inconsistent tenses, and awkward phrasing.
Why It’s a Problem
Poor writing distracts evaluators and can lower marks, despite good research.
How to Avoid It
Use formal, academic English.
Proofread your report several times.
Use tools like Grammarly or Quillbot Premium for error correction.
Get your draft reviewed by a peer or your supervisor before the final submission.