UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A sampling frame operationalizes the target population by listing units that can potentially be included in the sample. Examples include voter lists, school registers or membership databases. The quality of the frame affects representativeness because omissions or duplications can bias selection. Thus, it is the practical source list from which sample units are chosen.

Option A:
Option A defines the population, which is the broader group of interest, not necessarily the actual list used for sampling.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it highlights the frame as the list or device from which sampling occurs. It connects the conceptual population to the operational step of sample selection.

Option C:
Option C refers to the achieved sample or respondents, which may be smaller than the selected sample due to nonresponse. This is not the sampling frame.

Option D:
Option D describes the questionnaire, which is a data collection tool, not the list of units.

A sampling frame is the operational list of all elements in the population that are accessible for selection. It could be a register, roster, database or list of households, depending on the study. A good frame should be as complete and accurate as possible to avoid coverage errors. Thus, the list from which the sample is drawn is properly called the sampling frame.

Option A:
A sampling unit is the basic element or group considered for selection, such as a person, household or school. It may be listed in the frame but is not itself the complete list. Therefore, it does not fully match the stem.

Option B:
Population refers to the entire set of units about which the researcher wishes to generalise. It is a conceptual aggregate and may not be directly available as an actual list. Hence, population is different from the specific list used for sampling.

Option C:
Sample size denotes the number of units selected for the study and does not refer to the list from which they are chosen. It is a numerical characteristic, not a register or roster. So this option is not correct here.

Option D:
Sampling frame specifically denotes the complete operational list of elements or clusters from which probability sampling procedures can be implemented. This is exactly what the question describes, making this option correct.