Undergraduate projects, as often required, usually have this section where they should review previous studies that share relationships with the project under study. As it is typical with students’ final year projects, this section is often located in the chapter two of the project, the page doesn’t matter. However, some mistakes are very common, some which could be likened to lack of understanding or let’s say the ‘first time syndrome’. Good news is that, this article is meant to point these errors out.

Literature review is the title of a typical final year project chapter two and it involves taking stock of published or unpublished researches of relevant and credible sources mostly from Academics who have done detailed research in related topics and have made conclusions on the findings.

So as a co-researcher, Literature review gives you the opportunity to go through two,  three or more of these researches, criticize where necessary pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the research, raise constructive viewpoints and give significant  interpretation where necessary. But sorry to say, not too many final year projects have this deep content in their literature review. Let’s get to see this and other regular mistakes. Shall we;

Regular and common mistake in finalist literature reviews

Little or no need for research
The copy and paste habit prevalent among undergraduate also finds its way into their projects, neglecting the need to read thoroughly the papers under review. This limits the possibilities of citing sensitive and relevant parts of the review that could spice up the literature review.

You need to understand that paying particular attention to every detail in the subject of review gives you understanding of the research direction and proffer anchors to hook your own research.

Again, do not make the mistake of over looking the fundamental idea, school of thought and angle of reference the literature under review carries, those are the message your own project should build on or criticize as the case may be.

Contents/Ideas do not correspond
You know even after your reviews, you’re also expected to reveal a point of significance and agreement with your research yeah? But most of you get it all wrong starting from here.

There are so many published and unpublished academic works out there but you choose to review these few because it share similarities or and ideas with yours. So do well to point them out making sure to quote or paraphrase them with proper acknowledgements done. But if you don’t, it simply means the subject under review has no business with your projects and it doesn’t correspond at all.

Incomplete/Incorrect acknowledgement
While quoting, paraphrasing or referring to any work that is not yours in the course of your literature review, ensure to give a complete and correct acknowledgement. Some institutions rule out guidelines that should be followed doing so.

Neglecting this can result to rejecting or cancelling of your paper by your project supervisor and further result to delay in your research completion.

Inconsistent citation   
Watch out for this; your citation may be inconsistent due to oversight.  Lets say for instance, the first citation says ( obudu, 2018:15) and citing the same work in a different page you go, ( Obudu 2019:16). That could be taken as an over sight if it happen once  but if it keeps interchanging in two or more occasions, it records inconsistency and one can hardly know which to choose as the correct one.
 
Avoid a subjective review
There is a reason it is called a review, your opinion is not needed as a matter of fact. Therefore avoid being subjective in your literature review. Like earlier mentioned, literature review gives you a chance to give a critique on a work that share relationship with your project. You are free to point out loopholes, strengths, findings, research procedures and the significance the research leaves for yours.

Rather than being subjective, give a constructive interpretation and provide the relationship it shares with your project and you’re good.

Concluding note   
The key to giving a clear cut and exempting literature review is observation, candid and detailed research, acknowledgement, interpretation and knowing where the hook lies.

Editor's source

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says candidates will no longer provide email addresses at the point of registration for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
   
As codemint has confirmed,  JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, says the change would take effect from Thursday.
He said the board made the adjustment to protect candidates from various forms of manipulation and distortion of their personal details by some fraudulent cyber cafe operators.
“They gain access to profiles of these candidates under the pretence of creating an email address for them.

“Then they change and block the candidates from receiving messages from the board. They also extort them after they change their passwords.
“In view of this, the board has come up with adjustments to our operations.

“The first decision is that beginning from Thursday, April 15, candidates would no longer be required to provide any email address during registration from this year onwards.
“It is by going to these cyber cafes to open emails that these candidates are open to abuse and stealing of their personal data,’’ he said.

He said the board now had a mobile app that would allow candidates to deal directly with the board with their smartphones or via SMS to ‘55019’ code option.
The code option, he explained, would allow candidates check admission status as well as all other verifications via SMS.

“Printing of examination slips, results notification or raising tickets can be done anywhere by using candidates’ registration number only.

“However, at the close of registration every year, we would need the email addresses of the candidates so we can have access to as many of them as possible.
“At the conclusion of registration, candidates are expected to send their email addresses through the mobile app or text message to the 55019 code twice, for validation.

“This is to update their profile with JAMB as the email will no longer be used as access to their profile, rather as a communication tool with candidates.’’
He advised candidates to guard their phones with utmost care as it was the weapon for all transactions.

Mr Oloyede said that henceforth, all JAMB owned Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres across the country, would only allow candidates with ATM cards into its centres.
He said the centres had always operated cashless services but it would no longer allow candidates to go outside the centres to pay for their e-pins and other cash transactions.
The registrar said this was to cut down the activities of fraudsters who wait around and use the opportunity to hijack candidates to extort them.

“Those without ATM cards can go to other privately owned CBT centres where they can pay cash to register but we will not take cash or transact outside our centres,’’ he said.
The 2021 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration began on April 8 and would end on May 15.

Editors Source

Computer science projects topics are as practical as the course itself. It therefore necessitates the implementation of most of its students projects especially the tech-based ones. While it is possible to get their project topics right or wrong, computer science students, like others, must have their research topics approved before setting off for the research. As a matter of fact, finding a topic to hold unto could be challenging and so a number of interesting project ideas have been compiled for computer science projects students.

Take these topics into consideration:-

•   Design and implementation of a computerised project management system
Project managers can attest to the manual activities they put to execute a project, public or private. It’s so unfortunate that we still take this path amidst technological developments. However, computer science students may have to consider taking this challenge,  taking into consideration project planning and progress tracking systems.

•   Development of enhanced checkpoint technique in circuit computing using programmer level controls.
Police, Road safety corps and other law enforcement officials can be made to move from roadside checkpoints to a computer monitoring room if the prototype of this project is put to use.

•   Design and implementation of drugs information management in university procurement and distribution system.
This project can help track and monitor inventory of drugs in universities.
 
•   Design and implementation of a computerised congestion control system for multi-user telecommunications network.

•   Relevance of software in management information system
This project does not really require any design or implementation. It can be presented naturally.

•   Design and implementation of correctional management system
How many correctional centres in Nigeria are computerised. People can escape and walked freely unidentified digitally or otherwise. With this project, a solution can be fixed.

•   Design and implementation of contract management system
The design of this project intends to help plan and track the progress of contracts, public or private, while also taking note of stakeholders, resources and components involved.

 Awarding contracts is one of the safest way to cart away with public fund without questions. But with a computerised tracking system, transparency can be introduced.
There are too many areas to explore, you may have to rely mostly on what area you find interesting in your project.

Editor's source

If you ever want to get a final year project procedure right  as undergraduates, you should follow up religiously. And Just to let you know; if you decide to compromise any part of your research project, good luck with that but there are certain areas you should pay extra attention to and I wish you don’t ever compromise it, it could drag you way back if your research turns sour.
 
Typically, final year projects of undergraduates comprise of chapters 1-5 . Some chapters contain very delicate information that precede the research proper. They are not meant to be compromised and I will tell you why. Come with me...

Objectives of the research (somewhere in the first chapter)
Aside your project topic and the background of your research, another thing that singles a serious research from the lots are your research objectives. However compromising your project objectives louds an error from the start. Why?

Objectives, just in case you forgot, is simply the to-do list of your project topic. You’re simply required to outline the goals your topic is meant to achieve. There is actually no point trying to manipulate that course or even copy from a source.

Research Methodology (chapter 3)
The Most delicate part of your research and yet the most manipulated; I can tell reasons why. The research Methodology of undergraduate projects are often complicated and sometimes with lack of understanding,  students feel lost at that point, the only route of escape is seek undue help especially when it requires statistical representations.

It is at this point in your research journey that you should outline all the techniques you will deploy to gather data for your research including data analysis strategies. So you can imagine if you outline a different thing here and present something totally different in your chapter (4) out of ignorance or sheer negligence.

Components of a typical project chapter (3)

•   Research technique ( the type of research you intend to adopt)

•   Instrument for data gathering( a matching instrument that answers to your research technique eg. Questionnaire)

•   Instrument for data analysis (tables, graphs, charts etc)

•   Research population (the people, things or place you basically want to research on)

•   Sampling size(a section of the population you wish to sample for your research. You are required to outline how you arrived at the figure you’re to use and why)

•   Sampling procedure( is it purposive or  not, did you pick randomly or not etc.?

You can tell by what you see, why this section in the research is mostly manipulated along side the chapter for. What I know for sure is, if you get it right at this point, chances are that you may never go wrong in your research analysis.

Editor's source

Tables are very crucial aspects of any detailed research. They engage you with every detail of the data gathered from whom and for what. Most of the times, tables display data in statistical formats which may not be duly represented if written in text. In final year projects for undergraduates, tables as well as charts and graphs serves a hack for data presentation and analysis.  However, students go ahead reading research tables in text much after the table analysis; that’s the research error this lesson aims to correct.

Why do you include tables in your research paper work?

If you asked why you have to include tables in your research paper work then you have answers. Basically, tables are used to present data but I suppose you know about this already  so other reasons include:-

•   To organize data that is too detailed to be described adequately in text allowing the readers to quickly see the results.

•   Used to highlight trends and patterns in data and explains variables so you don’t need to repeat information represented in statistics in table to text .

By the way, that’s an error in research, I’m talking about repeating statistics in the table in text; it is called ‘table reading’ or reading research tables.

The essence of a table is to represent too much detailed information in it so to make way for interpretation in text. However the interpretation does not mean you should read out or write out the same information in text. It simply means you should explain the significance of that table to your research and how much of those numbers or their percentage contributes to your research.

Guidelines on table construction for final year project

Table reading is a bad research error and it's very common among students project papers. Below are guideline for research table construction and proper data representation so you won’t ever  be tempted to read your tables again...

•   Clearly describe what the table  is about in short simple sentence(s)

•   Column heads should be labelled to include the nature of data gathered

•   Limit the number of tables to essential information that cannot be adequately presented in text

•   Tables are better simple than complex

•   Design each table to be understandable without repeating in text

•   If there are large data, divide the data into categories and units in titled columns for easy comprehension

•   Include only results that are relevant to the research questions in the table.

That’s enough to know before drafting your data table. Would you  be needing anything else, kindly use the comment box.

Editor's source

Small and medium scale business enterprises face series of challenges building from scratch; from capital funding, to expanding their clientele reach to staffing and other socio economic issues. To have their businesses expanded, small and medium scale businesses are mandated to source for fund in whichever possible means available including working for someone else,  sourcing for investors, partnership and obtaining bank loans. Bank loans should be one of the most accessible means of huge capital resource for small business but there seem to be some unsettled issues which downplay the chances they have to access direct loans from banks.

So basically in this article we will be discussing the problems facing small and medium scale business enterprises in obtaining bank loans. While we do so, some Business Management final year projects does some detailed explanation on related topics. 

Still on small and medium scale business enterprises, it is not new that small scale businesses sustain economic life especially since job hunt became the piper’s tale. It is infact one of the best things that has ever happened to any economy since the industrial revolution. It has taken many out of the streets, raised millionaires out of nothing and most of all, a major labor employer of our time. Large scale business rely more on automated technologies with a little human resource to complement.

However capital expansion for small and medium scale businesses remains a challenge. Banks were meant to help but there are issues they have to deal with and they include:-

Rigid regulations   
Banks would tighten their regulatory standards for loans to small businesses after seasons of economic recession. They believe that it’s  more risky giving loan to small scale businesses. So by tightening the standards, small businesses won’t be able to get loans.

Less profit on small loans
Because small scale businesses would ask for smaller amount of money compared to large ones, they believe that not much profit will be made lending to small businesses. Bank is a business on its own so whatever will put their money in more risk than the profit it should fetch would rather not have its way.

Lack of Collateral
To get loans from bank in most cases, certain securities must be presented which should worth the amount to be issued. A typical small business entrepreneur may not have it as required; this could deny his/her access to bank loans.
 
Bad credit history or lack of credit history
Banks may also require or look into your credit history to ascertain your credit worthiness. If it is bad, you stand to be denied a loan and if you don’t have a credit history, a rigorous process is taken to ensure the bank does not suffer loss ie. If they decide to even grant the loan.
   
The Uptight routine for obtaining loans get the small business cycle really worked up and reduces the possibility of rapid growth as this threatens their survival over time. There are more issues these guys get to settle to get loans, you should add yours.

Editors source

Choosing new project topics as final year undergraduates is really critical to the beginning of your research. It doesn’t matter if your are documenting the research or exhibiting it ( as in the case of fine arts, theatre arts and other depts. in that category), what matters most is giving your research a direction,  first by choosing a project topic. However, brainstorming sounds like it’s the best approach to doing so whereas there are better approaches to achieving a better topic outcome.

That brings us to our basic discussion as to why brainstorming may not be the best idea for choosing a project topic. To be clear enough, brainstorming could be an individual affair or group based. According to a popular dictionary, Merriam Webster precisely,   brainstorming describes , Recall that final year projects are 97% individualistic. Everyone with their own topics and issue-laden research aims to find solutions. How then does brainstorming work since it points majorly to collaborative effort.

Still not a good idea because it results to;

Clash of interest    
If there are three course mates in the same level brainstorming together on new project topics, chances are that their research interest will clash thereby limiting the uniqueness of each other’s project topics especially if they have always been study-mates all along.

Limits research to personal interest
Mulling over of research ideas by an individual reduces your research ideas to your personal interest rather than finding solutions to societal issues which is of public interest. However cleaving to other alternatives as we will outline will raise already existing issues and bring it to limelight in your research.

Delays research progress
Comparably to other alternatives, brainstorming for a project topic is time consuming except you have to work ahead to beat time and  stress. No matter how fresh a topic seems when brainstormed, someone might have thought and done something related. Reason being that whatever we think about are influenced by what we see, hear, feel, experience, talk about, do, where we go and many others including what we learn. Whoever is exposed to what you’re exposed to is most likely to think the way you do.

Alternative to brainstorming for new project topics

Analyse previous research topics
It is advisable to go through previous research topics in your field of knowledge and analysis them. The essence doing this is to find out recommendations for further research indicated in those documented research.

Because undergraduate projects are not broad, its uniqueness is often locked in its continuity. Where one’s research ends, the others begins.
If you have done an analysis with an array of topics, you may then validate and choose a project topic.

EDITORS'S SOURCE

Startups usually face a lot of challenges on the go; some of which are influenced by several external as well as internal factors. However, it is necessary that a new business gets everything right from the start so that every other issue that may arise could become traceable. Among others, a new business should conduct a market research which has proven to be instrumental to business growth over time.

So this article will put you through 7 practical tips that are instrumental to conducting a market research for new businesses. You may like to digress a little to checkout research topics in business management as we go further in this discussion.

Meanwhile, the market research has more to do with analysis than less. Last weekend, the Central bank of Nigeria has announced the ban of cryptocurrency transactions with Nigerian banks. The panic raised by this announcement is yet to be reconciled since many businesses were thrown off balance including crypto-exchange startups following the hasty implementation of the announcement. It all boils down to understanding the risk factors in a business and prepare for a rainy day.

So below are some analyses you have to conduct for the market that you are introducing your new business into.

Needs assessment/Analysis
Every business has a need it is laden to meet. It happens most of the time that businesses emerge to solve very specific issues. So for a new business, it is very vital to asses, analyze and determine underlying issues and see what part of the problem you want your business to solve and make fortunes out of it.

Interview potential customers
Make out time to interrogate people you suppose your proposed business is meant to serve. The responses you gather will be instrumental to knowing which plans to abort, which to hold fast unto and which to keep as trivial.

Analyze the competition
It is necessary to know who your business competitors are i.e if any. By identifying them, find and analyze their loopholes and their major strongholds. Combining your competitors’ weaknesses and reports from market needs helps to give a striking focus for your new business and the new market.

Technical Analysis   
You should also look into procedures to work the business through an upgrade anytime in the future and as the business sprouts.

Location Analysis
Accessibility of a business location is as central as its market. However, the accessibility of businesses lately has extended to the internet space i.e. how optimized and user-friendly such website is. Therefore a new business with a physical structural outfit or just a digital company ought to make the location work out favorably for customers.

Manpower analysis
As a new business, getting competent hands is usually an issue of great concern if the business cannot afford to pay for those services. However, outsourcing your manpower needs are usually preferable than hiring outright, for instance; partnership are largely advised than paying for contracts.

Financial Analysis
Make financial plans, budgets and statistical estimate and possible returns on investment. This will largely influence your product cost or service charges directly and indirectly.

Sensitivity and risk analysis
Identify the growth and risks factors associated with your business. This will help you plan for survival strategies of your proposed business. 
Just like the delicate nature cryptocurrency and its market, businesses built around it should be experts in identifying escape routes in cases of any mishap and possible cases of hasty policy decision like it happened last weekend. 

EDITOR'S SOURCE

What this is about yeah? You don’t really need a master’s degree except for very few reasons which we will definitely talk about down here. Averagely, I suppose that one degree certificate of any denomination, with a final year project(s) on it, is enough to get you the life that you wish to live only if you know and do what is needful.

Being a graduate certainly does not guarantee that you automatically have a good life afterwards, you’re not even sure to get a job after you’re done with school; instead it lifts you, your hopes and expectation and makes it difficult and embarrassing to submit to ‘lower standard’ when you don’t see the hopes coming. So to think of a Master’s degree fetching you a better life is a crafted deception that lets you spend more for less including time which is your greatest asset.

Reason with me - you don’t need a master’s degree if:-

You don’t have any business in the academia (you don’t wish to be a teacher)
Reason is that upgrading your knowledge focus and certificate level increases your value in the academia since the specialty is about impacting the best you know wither as early childhood education teacher, secondary school teacher or University lecturer.

You don’t have a career already up and running
Look at this – Obi struggled, barely could afford his school fees throughout his days in the university. Obi finally graduated with a second class upper degree certificate. Obi hasn’t got a job yet and he thinks he needs to upgrade his qualification to become more attractive to employers. He gets a school loan and enrolls for a master’s degree. Obi graduates with a good grade and realizes that he is over qualified for the available jobs. He is left with the underpaid jobs as the only available option because he is frustrated with job search.

Even if your education is fully sponsored, ensure that you have a career that is up and running. It makes your master’s degree programme align aptly with your career curve. It happens most time that what you study may have nothing to do with the job you find. Along the line, work may get really interesting that you want to master your arts in that knowledge curve; that’s where a certificate upgrade should come in or a professional course in most cases.

Call to action
Do not waste money and time seeking to get a master’s degree when you have not done well with your first degree, whatever denomination it is. Go for a relevant and value laden skill acquisition or internship instead, it will not only boost your confidence, it will also attract opportunities to your mind and broaden your horizon about better money making gateways.

EDITOR'S SOURCE