UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Action research is a form of practitioner research in which teachers investigate their own classrooms to improve practice. It typically involves identifying a problem,planning an intervention,implementing it,collecting data and reflecting on the results. The stem mentions exactly this cycle of studying problems,implementing changes and evaluating impact,which defines action research.

Option A:
Survey research collects data from samples using questionnaires or interviews and is usually broader than one teacher’s classroom context.

Option B:
Historical research analyses past events and documents,not current classroom practice.

Option C:
Ex post facto research examines relationships after events have already occurred without manipulating variables,and it is not organised around cycles of intervention by the teacher.

Option D:
Action research is closely linked to reflective teaching and professional growth,which makes option D the correct completion.

Statements A, B, C, D and E together summarise basic terminology in sampling theory. A is true because the population is the full set of units to which the researcher wants to generalise, and B correctly defines a statistic as a value computed from a sample. Statement C accurately describes a parameter as a population characteristic, while D explains that parameters are typically unknown and estimated using statistics. E is also correct in noting that a census attempts to cover every unit, whereas F is false because measurement error can still occur even in a complete enumeration.

Option A:
Option A omits statement E, thereby failing to mention the important notion of a census study. Since E is a correct statement about covering every unit of the population, leaving it out means the option does not include all correct statements. Hence, it is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B includes F, which wrongly suggests that measurement error disappears once a census is conducted. Even when every unit is measured, instruments and respondents can still introduce error. Because Option B mixes a false statement with true ones, it cannot be the correct answer.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it lists A, B, C, D and E, all of which align with standard definitions in population and sampling concepts. It deliberately excludes F, which underestimates the possibility of measurement error. Thus this combination contains all and only the true statements.

Option D:
Option D drops statement A, ignoring the central definition of population, and includes F, which is false. By omitting a key true statement and adding an incorrect one, this combination misrepresents the basic concepts and is therefore invalid.

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.

Statements A, C and E present core characteristics of research as systematic, data based and knowledge oriented. Statement A is true because research must follow an organised and objective procedure to investigate a problem. Statement C is true as every research study involves collecting data, analysing it and interpreting the findings. Statement E is also true because the purpose of research is to generate or refine knowledge through logical reasoning, whereas statement B wrongly restricts research to commercial gains and statement D wrongly limits it to laboratory situations.

Option A:
Option A selects statements A, C and E, all of which correctly capture research as systematic, empirical and knowledge producing. It excludes statement B, which overemphasises immediate commercial benefit, and statement D, which wrongly confines research to laboratories. Therefore this combination includes all the true statements and leaves out both incorrect ones.

Option B:
Option B omits statement E, so it fails to reflect the knowledge-generating function of research. Although A and C are true, leaving out E makes the description incomplete. Hence this option is only partially correct and cannot be the right answer.

Option C:
Option C wrongly includes statement B along with C and E. Because statement B is false, any combination that contains it becomes incorrect. As a result, even though C and E are true, the presence of B makes this option invalid.

Option D:
Option D includes statements A, B, C and E and therefore incorporates statement B, which is incorrect. Since a correct combination must exclude false statements, this option cannot be accepted. The inclusion of both correct and incorrect statements makes the overall combination wrong.