UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Interpersonal communication occurs between two persons or within a small group where there is direct,face-to-face interaction. It allows immediate feedback and rich use of verbal and non verbal cues. A conversation between two individuals clearly belongs to this category. Therefore,the described situation is interpersonal communication.

Option A:
Mass communication is aimed at large,heterogeneous audiences through media like TV,radio or newspapers. It does not involve direct face-to-face exchange between two individuals. Hence it is not suitable here.

Option B:
Interpersonal communication is often called dyadic when it involves exactly two people,taking turns as sender and receiver. The stem refers to such a dyadic conversation,so this option fits perfectly.

Option C:
Intrapersonal communication is internal dialogue within an individual,such as thinking or self-talk,and does not involve another person.

Option D:
Group communication involves interaction among several individuals forming a group,rather than just two people in direct conversation.

Defining communication as creating and sharing common understanding highlights that it happens between people in relationships. This makes communication fundamentally a social process rather than a purely individual activity. Social interaction is central because meanings are negotiated in groups and communities. The correct option therefore captures the core nature of communication in this definition.

Option A:
Calling communication social stresses that humans use it to connect,coordinate and cooperate with others in daily life. It fits the idea of shared understanding described in the stem. This option recognises that communication cannot exist without at least two participants.

Option B:
Mechanical would reduce communication to devices and technical transmission,ignoring human interaction and shared meaning. It does not reflect the emphasis on understanding between people. This term therefore fails to capture the conceptual focus of the definition.

Option C:
Ritualistic refers to symbolic ceremonies and formal rites,which are only one special context of communication. The general definition in the stem is broader than ritual acts and cannot be limited to them. Hence ritualistic is not the best descriptor here.

Option D:
Random suggests that communication is haphazard and without structure,which contradicts the idea of purposeful creation of understanding. Effective communication is organised around shared codes and norms,not random acts.

The constructivist approach views learning as an active process in which learners construct new knowledge by relating it to their existing cognitive structures. It highlights the importance of prior knowledge, hands-on activities and interaction with peers and teachers to negotiate meaning. The stem’s emphasis on prior knowledge, active engagement and social negotiation clearly identifies this as the constructivist approach.

Option A:
Behaviourist approaches focus on observable behaviour changes produced through reinforcement and conditioning, often downplaying internal cognitive construction and social negotiation of meaning.

Option B:
Authoritarian approaches centralise power in the teacher, with little emphasis on learner autonomy or shared meaning-making. This is inconsistent with constructivist principles.

Option C:
Eclectic approach refers to combining features from various methods without necessarily being grounded in a specific learning theory such as constructivism. It does not directly signal the theoretical emphasis mentioned in the stem.

Option D:
In constructivist classrooms, teachers design tasks that require exploration, collaboration and reflection. Because these features align exactly with the description in the stem, constructivist is the correct answer.

Haptics is the study of communication through touch. A handshake conveys respect,warmth or formality depending on culture. Welcoming a guest speaker with a handshake uses touch as a meaningful sign. Therefore this is an example of haptics.

Option A:
Proxemics concerns distance and seating,not direct touch.

Option B:
The use of touch in greeting clearly fits haptics,making this option correct.

Option C:
Chronemics covers timing rather than physical contact.

Option D:
Verbalism would emphasise spoken words,which are not the focus of the stem.

Statements A, B, D and F are correct, whereas C and E are incorrect. Formal communication indeed uses official structures, while informal talk often arises spontaneously in social moments. Informal networks can clarify or reinterpret formal messages, and in most institutions both systems operate side by side. Formal communication often produces written records, and informal interactions also influence institutional climate, so C and E are false. Thus A, B, D and F make up the correct set of statements.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it leaves out F, ignoring the fact that formal and informal networks usually coexist within the same institution. Though A, B and D are accurate, the omission of F means the option does not give a full picture of institutional communication. Therefore A, B and D only cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B is wrong since it includes E as if it were correct, claiming that only formal communication affects climate. In practice, gossip, informal support and hallway conversations strongly shape how people feel about the institution. Including E makes this combination inconsistent with organisational communication realities.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A and treats B, D, E and F as correct, thereby accepting E and ignoring the definition of formal communication. Without A, the option fails to define formal channels, and with E it underestimates the impact of informal networks. This combination therefore cannot be chosen.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it gathers A, B, D and F, reflecting both the dual-channel nature of institutions and the roles each channel plays. It excludes C, which denies written records, and E, which sidelines informal influence. Hence A, B, D and F only is the appropriate answer.