UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The semantic differential scale presents a concept or object along with opposing adjective pairs placed at the ends of a continuum, and respondents indicate their position between these poles. This captures the connotative meaning of the concept on dimensions such as evaluation, potency and activity. It allows nuanced measurement of attitudes beyond simple agreement or disagreement. Because the stem mentions bipolar adjective pairs like good–bad or strong–weak, it clearly describes the semantic differential scale.

Option A:
A rating scale generally asks respondents to judge an object on a single numerical or descriptive continuum, such as from 1 to 10, but it does not necessarily employ bipolar adjective pairs. While rating scales are common, the specific format in the stem is more precisely described by the semantic differential technique.

Option B:
The semantic differential scale uses several such bipolar items and can summarise responses by averaging across them, providing profiles of how concepts are perceived. This emphasis on paired adjectives and connotative meaning fits the stem closely, confirming semantic differential scale as the correct completion.

Option C:
A nominal scale merely labels categories without order or quantitative interpretation, such as types of occupation. It does not involve rating positions between bipolar adjectives and therefore does not match the description in the question.

Option D:
A rank order scale requires respondents to arrange items in order of preference, not to locate them on continua between opposite adjectives. Hence, rank order scale is not the appropriate term here.

Statements A, B, C and E correctly represent the main features of common attitude scaling techniques. Likert scales use agreement ratings, semantic differential scales use bipolar adjectives and Thurstone scales rely on judges’ weights. These tools generate numerical scores that allow researchers to quantify attitudes for analysis, so E is also correct. Statement D is false because attitude scales are a hallmark of quantitative research and explicitly produce numeric data.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all four true statements and excludes D, which mischaracterises the quantitative nature of attitude scales. It captures both the structural features of the scales and their function in converting subjective attitudes into numerical form.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete as it omits E, failing to highlight that the purpose of these scales is to create data suitable for statistical analysis. Without E, the significance of assigning numbers to attitudes remains implicit rather than explicit.

Option C:
Option C includes B, C and E but leaves out A, so it does not mention Likert scaling, which is one of the most widely used attitude measures. This omission makes the overview of attitude scales incomplete.

Option D:
Option D contains A, C and E but omits B, ignoring semantic differential scales, which are important for measuring connotative meaning. Leaving out this type of scale means the option cannot be considered a full set of correct statements.

Statements A, B, C, D and F accurately describe features and uses of different scales. A is correct because Likert scales typically measure degrees of agreement or disagreement, while B is true for semantic differential scales that use bipolar adjectives like “good–bad”. Statement C is correct in describing rating scales with numerical points, and D is accurate that checklists record whether specified behaviours or traits are present. F is also true since choice among these scales should reflect research goals and construct characteristics, whereas E is false because many of these scales produce ordered or interval-like data, not merely nominal categories.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it includes all true statements and excludes the single false claim that all such scales are nominal. By recognising the ordinal or interval-like nature of many attitude and rating scales, it stays conceptually consistent. Thus, this option contains all and only the correct statements.

Option B:
Option B omits statement F, ignoring the important point that selection of a scale should be driven by research objectives and the nature of the construct. Without F, the option does not fully represent how researchers decide among scale types. Therefore, it is incomplete.

Option C:
Option C leaves out C, failing to mention the basic property of rating scales as numerical continua. Although it includes some true statements, missing C weakens the technical description of scale types. Hence, this combination cannot be chosen as correct.

Option D:
Option D excludes statement A, overlooking the characteristic way in which Likert scales operate. Even though B, C, D and F are correct, ignoring A results in an incomplete portrayal of the main attitude measurement formats.