UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

In this item statements A, B, D and F correctly describe qualitative data analysis, while C and E are wrong. Statement A is true because coding organises data into themes, and statement B is correct about constant comparison in grounded theory. Statement D accurately notes that member checking can improve credibility, and statement F is true since reflexive memos record evolving interpretations. Statement C is false because analysis often overlaps with data collection, and statement E is false because visual displays such as matrices or maps are frequently used.

Option A:
Option A marks only C as wrong and neglects E. While C is indeed incorrect about timing, E also misrepresents the use of visual displays in qualitative analysis. Therefore this option captures only part of the error set.

Option B:
Option B correctly identifies both C and E as wrong statements while keeping A, B, D and F as true. It recognises the iterative nature of analysis and the role of visual tools. Because it includes all and only the wrong statements, this combination is the correct answer.

Option C:
Option C treats only E as wrong, overlooking the error in C concerning the overlap of collection and analysis. Since the question asks for all wrong statements, this option is incomplete and cannot be accepted.

Option D:
Option D incorrectly includes D along with C and E. Statement D is actually correct, as member checking is a recognised strategy for enhancing credibility. Misclassifying it as wrong invalidates this option.

Statements A, B, C and D describe the central logic of grounded theory, and F adds a key analytical tool. A is true because the method aims to build theory from data rather than impose it a priori, and B correctly notes the iterative nature of collection and analysis. C is accurate in defining theoretical sampling, and D states the importance of constant comparison. F is also true since memos help researchers articulate developing concepts, whereas E is false because grounded theory does not start with a fully specified theory to test.

Option A:
Option A omits statement F, ignoring the practical role of memo writing as an integral part of grounded theory analysis. Although A, B, C and D are correct, the absence of F means that not all true statements are represented. Thus, this option is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it selects A, B, C, D and F, covering aims, process, sampling, comparison and memoing in grounded theory. It excludes E, which contradicts the emergent nature of the approach. Therefore this combination includes all and only the true statements.

Option C:
Option C leaves out statement A, thereby losing the basic goal of grounded theory: producing theory rooted in data. Even though B, C, D and F are true, missing A prevents this option from giving a full picture of the methodology.

Option D:
Option D includes statement E, which wrongly asserts that grounded theory begins with a fully specified theory. This misrepresents the method and, even though other statements in the option are true, the presence of E renders the entire combination incorrect.

Grounded theory research seeks to develop a substantive or formal theory that is grounded in, or emerges from, the data collected rather than being imposed a priori. Researchers collect and analyse data concurrently, using constant comparison to refine categories and their relationships. Sampling is often theoretical, with new participants chosen to elaborate or challenge emerging concepts. Thus, the qualitative approach described in the stem is known as grounded theory research.

Option A:
Phenomenological research focuses on understanding the essence of lived experiences from participants’ first-person perspectives and does not primarily aim to build theory in the systematic, category-based way that grounded theory does.

Option B:
Grounded theory emphasises iterative cycles of coding, memo writing and category development that lead to a theory closely tied to participants’ accounts. This inductive process of theory generation fits the description in the question, making this option correct.

Option C:
Ethnographic research concentrates on describing and interpreting cultural practices and shared meanings in a group through prolonged fieldwork. While some conceptual insights may emerge, the explicit goal is not always formal theory generation.

Option D:
Narrative research examines people’s stories and the way they construct meaning over time, focusing on plot, characters and narrative structure rather than on building a generalisable theory from coded data.

Grounded theory is an inductive qualitative approach in which theories are generated from data rather than tested as in traditional hypothesis-driven research. A core procedure is constant comparative analysis, where incidents are compared within and across categories to refine concepts and relationships. Through iterative coding, memoing and sampling, the researcher develops a substantive theory grounded in participants’ experiences. Thus, the approach described in the stem is correctly called grounded theory.

Option A:
Narrative theory focuses on the structure and meaning of stories people tell, analysing plots, characters and temporal sequences. Although it may involve some comparison of narratives, constant comparison for systematic category development is not its defining feature. Therefore, narrative theory is not the best completion.

Option B:
Phenomenological theory or phenomenological research aims to understand the essence of lived experience from the participants’ point of view. It uses deep reflection and description rather than constant comparative coding to build formal categories and properties. Hence, phenomenological theory does not match the method in the stem.

Option C:
Grounded theory researchers move back and forth between data collection and analysis, letting emerging categories guide further sampling until theoretical saturation is reached. This heavy reliance on constant comparison aligns exactly with the description given in the question.

Option D:
Ethnographic theory or ethnography is concerned with understanding cultural patterns and social practices through prolonged fieldwork and participant observation. While coding is used, the central emphasis is on holistic cultural description rather than theory generation via constant comparison of incidents. Thus, ethnographic theory is not the correct answer.

Statements A, B, C and E accurately portray grounded theory as a methodology that develops theory inductively from data. Data collection and analysis are intertwined, with theoretical sampling and constant comparison used to refine categories and relationships. Statement D is false because grounded theory does not start from a rigid prior framework; rather, it allows categories and theory to emerge from the data. Therefore the correct combination includes A, B, C and E but not D.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it brings together the statements that describe the emergent, iterative and comparative nature of grounded theory. By excluding D, it respects the inductive spirit of the approach, where theory is discovered rather than imposed beforehand.

Option B:
Option B omits E, thereby neglecting constant comparison, which is one of the most characteristic analytic strategies in grounded theory. Without E, the methodological description is incomplete.

Option C:
Option C includes B, C and E but leaves out A, so it does not explicitly state that the main goal is to develop grounded theory. The absence of A takes away the overarching purpose of the methodology.

Option D:
Option D contains A, C and E but omits B, ignoring the iterative interplay between data collection and analysis. Since this iterative process is central to grounded theory, leaving it out makes the option incomplete.

Grounded theory is a qualitative approach in which researchers collect and analyse data simultaneously, allowing concepts and categories to emerge from the data rather than imposing a preconceived theory. Through constant comparison and theoretical sampling, they refine these categories into a substantive theory that is grounded in participants’ experiences. The emphasis is on building theory inductively rather than testing an existing framework. Because the stem describes developing theory inductively from field data, it is referring to grounded theory.

Option A:
Grounded theory seeks to move beyond rich description to generate explanatory frameworks that account for patterns in the data. Researchers continually compare incidents, refine codes and write memos to articulate emerging theoretical relationships. This iterative, inductive process matches the stem’s focus on theory development from field data, making grounded theory the correct completion.

Option B:
Phenomenology aims to describe the essence of individuals’ lived experiences of a phenomenon, often bracketing the researcher’s preconceptions. While it analyses qualitative data, its goal is not primarily to build a theory but to capture experiential meanings. Therefore, phenomenology does not fit the description of inductive theory development.

Option C:
Case study research involves an in-depth investigation of a bounded system such as an individual, group or institution. It may use multiple sources of data and can be descriptive, explanatory or exploratory, but it does not necessarily aim to produce a formal theory in the specific grounded-theory sense. Hence, case study is not the best label here.

Option D:
Narrative research focuses on the stories individuals tell about their lives and experiences and analyses these narratives for structure and content. Although it may generate insights and concepts, its primary orientation is toward narrative construction rather than systematic theory building from constant comparison. Thus, narrative research is not the correct term.