UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, C and E are accepted functions of a good literature review, whereas D is false. A literature review maps what is already known, identifies gaps, helps refine questions or hypotheses and prevents unnecessary duplication. It also situates the current work within relevant theories and conceptual frameworks. Statement D is wrong because empirical studies also require literature reviews to connect them with existing evidence.

Option A:
Option A includes A, B and C but omits E, ignoring the crucial role of the literature review in anchoring the study in theoretical perspectives. Because it leaves out one true statement, the combination is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it assembles all the true statements and excludes D, which undervalues the importance of literature review in empirical work. It therefore provides a comprehensive view of the purposes of reviewing earlier research.

Option C:
Option C adds D, which wrongly suggests that literature review is optional for empirical studies, and omits C, which correctly highlights avoiding duplication. This mixture of inclusion and omission makes the option unsound.

Option D:
Option D leaves out A, thereby failing to acknowledge gap identification as a central function of literature review. Even though B, C and E are correct, missing A prevents the option from being complete.

Option E includes D, the incorrect claim, and omits B, which recognises the refinement of questions and hypotheses. Because it both adds a false statement and omits a true one, this option cannot be accepted.

Statements A, B, D and E capture the main purposes of a review of related literature, while statement C is incorrect. Statement A is true because reviewing earlier studies helps to locate gaps in existing knowledge. Statement B is correct since understanding existing work helps the researcher refine the research problem and formulate or adjust hypotheses, and statement D is accurate because knowledge of prior studies prevents unnecessary duplication. Statement E is also true, as review of literature provides theoretical and conceptual frameworks for the study, whereas statement C is false because review is typically conducted before data collection, not only after it.

Option A:
Option A brings together A, B and D but omits E. Although A, B and D are true, excluding E means the important role of literature review in building theoretical and conceptual frameworks is not reflected. Since all four of A, B, D and E are correct, leaving one out makes this option incomplete and therefore incorrect.

Option B:
Option B correctly combines A, B, D and E, which together summarise the key functions of a literature review. It recognises that review helps to identify gaps, refine problems and hypotheses, avoid duplication and build conceptual frameworks. It also implicitly excludes statement C, which wrongly postpones literature review to only after data collection. Because it includes all and only the true statements, this option is the correct answer.

Option C:
Option C groups B, D and E but leaves out A. While B, D and E are true, A is also correct because identifying research gaps is a central reason for conducting a literature review. Omitting A leads to an incomplete specification of the review’s functions, so this option cannot be accepted.

Option D:
Option D includes A, D and E but also incorporates C, which is false. By suggesting that literature review is conducted only after data collection, statement C misrepresents standard research practice. Since this option mixes a false statement with true ones, it does not provide a valid set of correct statements.