UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statement D is wrong because convenience sampling does not guarantee high external validity; it often leads to biased samples that limit generalisation. Statements A, B, C and E are correct: external validity concerns generalisation, narrow or atypical samples restrict it, replication strengthens it and realistic settings can enhance ecological validity. Hence, the only wrong statement is D.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it also labels A, which properly defines external validity, as wrong along with D. Treating A as incorrect misrepresents a basic concept in research design.

Option B:
Option B is wrong because it groups B with D as wrong, even though B accurately describes how an atypical sample can limit generalisability. Misclassifying B obscures a key threat to external validity.

Option C:
Option C is also incorrect because it treats C, which rightly notes the value of replication, as wrong. Replication is a standard strategy to test the robustness of findings across contexts.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it singles out D as the only statement that wrongly exaggerates the merits of convenience sampling for generalisation, while implicitly accepting the rest as accurate.

Statements A, B, D and E correctly describe commonly recognised sources of research problems. Practical issues, literature gaps, policy priorities and the need to replicate or extend earlier work all provide fertile grounds for new studies. Statement C is false because personal curiosity, when disciplined and linked to observation or literature, can legitimately motivate research. Thus, the set including A, B, D and E but excluding C is the only fully correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits E, failing to acknowledge that replication and extension of earlier studies are major routes to refining evidence. Without E, the long-term cumulative nature of research knowledge is not fully represented.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it gathers together all true statements about how research problems can emerge in practice, literature and policy contexts. It rightly rejects C, which overstates the impropriety of curiosity as a starting point.

Option C:
Option C leaves out A, overlooking practice-based problems arising from professional experience, which are very important in applied fields such as education. This omission makes the combination incomplete even though B, D and E are true.

Option D:
Option D includes C, treating personal curiosity as inherently illegitimate, which is incorrect. Even though it contains some true statements, the presence of C means the option cannot be accepted.