UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A research question articulates, in interrogative form, what the study seeks to find out about a phenomenon or relationship. It narrows the broad problem into a specific focus that can realistically be addressed. By indicating what information is needed, it guides decisions about variables, participants and instruments. Therefore, a clearly worded interrogative statement that directs data collection is known as a research question.

Option A:
The research question helps to avoid vague or overly broad investigations by specifying exactly what the researcher wants to know. It serves as a bridge between the general problem and more formal hypotheses or objectives. This focusing and guiding function matches the description given in the stem.

Option B:
A null hypothesis is a statistical statement asserting that no significant difference or relationship exists in the population; it is not usually phrased as an interrogative question. It is also tied more to hypothesis testing than to the initial framing of inquiry. Hence, null hypothesis is not the correct completion.

Option C:
A research design is the blueprint that specifies how data will be collected and analysed, based on the previously defined questions and objectives. It is a plan, not an interrogative statement. Therefore, research design does not fit the role described in the question.

Option D:
A sampling frame is the list of units from which the sample is drawn and does not itself define what is being asked or investigated. It is a technical tool for selection rather than a statement of inquiry, so sampling frame is not appropriate here.

Statements A, B and D describe essential properties and roles of a good hypothesis, whereas C and E are false. A sound hypothesis must be testable and open to falsification, be clearly written and guide the selection of data and analytic strategies. It is not required that the hypothesis be proven true; disconfirmation can also be informative. Moreover, correlational studies often do formulate hypotheses about the direction and strength of relationships, so E is incorrect.

Option A:
Option A includes only A and B, omitting D, which explains how hypotheses guide data and analysis decisions. Without D, the option does not fully reflect the functional role of hypotheses in research design.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it gathers together the three statements that reflect both the logical and practical aspects of hypothesis formulation. It excludes C, which overemphasises “proving true”, and E, which understates the use of hypotheses in correlational designs.

Option C:
Option C includes C, which wrongly insists that hypotheses must always be proven true, and omits A, which emphasises testability and falsifiability. This combination therefore distorts the logic of hypothesis testing.

Option D:
Option D brings in E, which incorrectly claims that correlational studies do not require hypotheses, and omits B, thereby failing to stress clarity and conciseness. It cannot be accepted as correct.

Option E includes E and adds it to a set of otherwise correct statements, which undermines the validity of the combination. The presence of this false statement makes the option incorrect.