UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and D express central features and functions of research hypotheses. Statement A is true because a hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a research problem. Statement B correctly points out that a good hypothesis should be clear, specific and testable, and statement D rightly notes that hypotheses help shape the research design and data collection procedures. Statements C and E are false: C wrongly suggests that a single study always proves a hypothesis true, and E incorrectly claims that all qualitative exploratory studies must have formal hypotheses.

Option A:
Option A contains two correct statements about the nature and characteristics of hypotheses but omits statement D. Since D is also true and essential for understanding how hypotheses guide design and data collection, this option is incomplete. Therefore it cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B includes statements B and D but leaves out A. Although B and D are accurate, ignoring A fails to acknowledge the basic definition of a hypothesis as a tentative, testable answer. Because a correct combination must reflect all the true statements, Option B is inadequate.

Option C:
Option C correctly groups A, B and D, which together summarise what a research hypothesis is and what it does in a study. It excludes statement C, which overstates the conclusiveness of a single study, and statement E, which incorrectly generalises about qualitative research. As it contains all and only the true statements, this option is the correct answer.

Option D:
Option D adds statement E to the otherwise correct combination of A, B and D. However, E is false because many qualitative exploratory studies proceed with flexible questions or sensitising concepts rather than formal hypotheses. Including a false statement makes the entire combination incorrect.

A central requirement of a useful hypothesis is that it can be subjected to empirical testing using data. Testability means the hypothesis describes relationships in a way that allows for observation, measurement and analysis. Only when a hypothesis is testable can it be supported or refuted and thus contribute to scientific knowledge. Therefore, being testable is a key characteristic of a good hypothesis.

Option A:
A testable hypothesis specifies variables and expected relationships clearly enough that data can be collected to examine it. This clarity makes it possible to design appropriate instruments, procedures and analyses. Because the stem emphasises the possibility of empirical verification, this option fits perfectly.

Option B:
Ambiguous hypotheses use vague terms or unclear relationships, making them difficult to operationalise or test. Such statements lead to confusion in design and interpretation, so ambiguity is the opposite of what is required.

Option C:
A purely philosophical statement may deal with abstract issues that cannot be empirically observed or measured, such as questions about ultimate reality, and thus may fall outside the scope of empirical research. Hence, this option is not suitable.

Option D:
A hypothesis unrelated to theory lacks grounding in existing knowledge or conceptual frameworks and may appear arbitrary. While data could be collected, such a hypothesis may not meaningfully advance understanding, so it does not capture the quality stressed in the question.

Statements A, B and D describe essential properties and roles of a good hypothesis, whereas C and E are false. A sound hypothesis must be testable and open to falsification, be clearly written and guide the selection of data and analytic strategies. It is not required that the hypothesis be proven true; disconfirmation can also be informative. Moreover, correlational studies often do formulate hypotheses about the direction and strength of relationships, so E is incorrect.

Option A:
Option A includes only A and B, omitting D, which explains how hypotheses guide data and analysis decisions. Without D, the option does not fully reflect the functional role of hypotheses in research design.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it gathers together the three statements that reflect both the logical and practical aspects of hypothesis formulation. It excludes C, which overemphasises “proving true”, and E, which understates the use of hypotheses in correlational designs.

Option C:
Option C includes C, which wrongly insists that hypotheses must always be proven true, and omits A, which emphasises testability and falsifiability. This combination therefore distorts the logic of hypothesis testing.

Option D:
Option D brings in E, which incorrectly claims that correlational studies do not require hypotheses, and omits B, thereby failing to stress clarity and conciseness. It cannot be accepted as correct.

Option E includes E and adds it to a set of otherwise correct statements, which undermines the validity of the combination. The presence of this false statement makes the option incorrect.