UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Delimitations are self-imposed boundaries that the researcher chooses in order to narrow down the study to a manageable focus, such as restricting the sample to certain grades or institutions. They indicate what will be included and what will be excluded by design. These boundaries help maintain clarity and feasibility without being imposed by external constraints. Therefore, intentional scope boundaries are correctly called delimitations.

Option A:
Limitations refer to weaknesses or constraints that the researcher cannot fully control, such as time, resources or measurement imperfections. They may restrict the generalisation of findings but are not deliberately chosen boundaries. Hence, limitations are different from the intentionally set scope defined in the stem.

Option B:
Delimitations are decided at the planning stage so that the research remains coherent and realistic with available resources. By specifying these boundaries explicitly, the researcher makes the focus and context of the study transparent. This matches the description in the question, confirming that delimitations is the appropriate term.

Option C:
Assumptions are underlying conditions or statements accepted as true without proof for the purpose of the study, such as the honesty of respondents. They do not define the geographic, temporal or conceptual confines of the research. Thus, assumptions cannot be equated with the boundaries referred to in the stem.

Option D:
Hypotheses are tentative predictions about relationships between variables to be tested empirically. They arise from the research problem and literature rather than defining the limits of the study’s scope. Therefore, hypotheses are not the correct completion.

Statements D and E are wrong because they encourage hiding or rejecting studies with limitations, which is contrary to ethical and scholarly norms. All empirical studies have some limitations, and acknowledging them improves transparency and helps readers interpret results appropriately. In contrast, A, B and C correctly describe what delimitations and limitations are and why they should be reported. Thus, only the combination containing D and E as wrong statements is correct for this question.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it identifies only D as wrong and ignores E, which falsely suggests that studies with limitations should not be conducted or reported. Both D and E misrepresent how scholarly work is evaluated.

Option B:
Option B is wrong because it treats only E as incorrect, overlooking the harmful recommendation in D to avoid mentioning limitations. In reality, concealing limitations weakens rather than strengthens research.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it also labels C as wrong, even though reporting delimitations and limitations is central to helping readers judge the scope of findings. Misclassifying C undermines good reporting practice.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it groups D and E, the only two statements that contradict responsible research practice, and implicitly affirms that A, B and C are accurate descriptions.

A feasible research problem is one that can be investigated effectively with the time, skills, data access and funding available. It is neither too broad nor too complex for the researcher’s situation. Feasibility ensures that the study can be completed and reported credibly. Hence, a realistic and manageable problem is correctly described as feasible.

Option A:
Option A uses the term feasible to signal that the study is practically doable. It respects constraints such as sample availability, access to settings and ethical considerations. Because the stem highlights being within resources and realistic, this option is correct.

Option B:
A trivial problem may be easy to study but lacks theoretical or practical significance, so it is not valued in academic research. The stem does not suggest triviality; it stresses realistic manageability. Therefore, trivial is not appropriate.

Option C:
An ambiguous problem is stated in a vague or unclear way, making it hard to operationalise and study systematically. Ambiguity is a flaw, not a desirable characteristic like feasibility. So this option does not fit the question.

Option D:
A rhetorical problem may be posed mainly for effect rather than for actual investigation. It is not concerned with practical completion or empirical study, so rhetorical is not the right term here.