UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statement C is wrong because correlation alone does not justify causal conclusions; without establishing time order and ruling out alternative explanations, causal claims are premature. Statements A, B, D and E are correct: positive correlation indicates a tendency for variables to move together, zero correlation suggests no linear relationship, causal claims need stronger evidence and confusing correlation with causation can misguide policy. Hence, C alone is the incorrect statement.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it combines A, which is true, with C as wrong, implying both are incorrect. This would deny the standard interpretation of positive correlation.

Option B:
Option B is also wrong as it labels B, a correct definition of zero correlation in the linear sense, as incorrect along with C. Treating B as wrong would confuse interpretation of correlation coefficients.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes D, which correctly notes that causal claims require more than correlation. Grouping D with C misrepresents the conditions for causal inference.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it isolates C as the only flawed statement and acknowledges implicitly that the others warn appropriately about the limits of correlational evidence.