UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and D describe central functions of hypotheses in research. Hypotheses help focus data collection on relevant variables, indicate suitable statistical tests and often specify the expected direction of relationships. Statement C is false because hypotheses concern propositions to be tested, not established facts, and E is false because explanatory research commonly uses hypotheses to examine causal relations. Thus, the correct combination must include A, B and D while excluding C and E.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it excludes D, ignoring the role of hypotheses in indicating whether relationships are expected to be positive, negative or null. Without D, the directional function of hypotheses is missing from the description.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it combines the three statements that accurately characterise how hypotheses guide the design and analysis of research. It recognises that hypotheses are tools for inquiry rather than restatements of facts, and it correctly excludes C and E.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it retains C, which incorrectly treats hypotheses as established facts, and omits A, which highlights their role in focusing data collection. Including C distorts the provisional nature of hypotheses.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes E, the statement that hypotheses are meaningless in explanatory research, even though explanatory studies rely heavily on hypothesised relationships. Accepting E contradicts the core logic of hypothesis-testing research.