UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and C correctly describe population, sample, representativeness and sampling error, whereas D and E are wrong. Using a sample instead of a census does not automatically remove non-sampling error such as measurement or non-response error. Similarly, simply increasing sample size cannot eliminate bias caused by an incomplete or faulty sampling frame. Therefore, the wrong statements are D and E together.

Option A:
Option A identifies only D as wrong and overlooks E. Although D is indeed incorrect, E also contains a misconception by claiming that large samples remove frame-induced bias. Because it fails to include all wrong statements, this option is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B isolates only E as wrong and ignores D. While E is clearly incorrect, D also misleads by implying that sampling automatically eliminates non-sampling error. Hence, Option B does not capture the full set of wrong statements.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it groups D and E, the two statements that misrepresent what sampling can achieve. It recognises that non-sampling errors and frame bias require other remedies such as better instruments, careful procedures and accurate frames.

Option D:
Option D incorrectly includes C among the wrong statements. Statement C is actually a standard definition of sampling error as the difference between a statistic and the corresponding parameter. Misclassifying this correct definition makes the combination invalid.

Option E wrongly presents A, which correctly defines a sample, as a wrong statement alongside D and E. By treating a basic concept as incorrect, this option cannot be accepted.