UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A frequency distribution lists the distinct values or categories of a variable along with the number of observations in each. It is a fundamental tool in descriptive statistics because it summarises large datasets into a simple, interpretable form. This table can be presented in absolute frequencies, relative frequencies or percentages. Therefore, a table showing how many cases fall into each category is correctly called a frequency distribution.

Option A:
In a frequency distribution, categories may be individual values or class intervals, and the table can be used to create graphs such as histograms or bar charts. It helps identify patterns like skewness, modality and concentration of scores. These characteristics match the description given in the stem.

Option B:
A scatter diagram plots paired scores for two variables on a coordinate plane to visualise their relationship, not the count of cases within categories of a single variable. It does not take the form of a simple table of frequencies. Hence, scatter diagram is not the appropriate completion.

Option C:
A regression line summarises the linear relationship between two quantitative variables in a scatter plot and is used for prediction. It is an analytic tool, not a tabular display of frequencies for categories of a single variable. Therefore, regression line does not fit the question.

Option D:
A contingency table cross-classifies cases into categories of two or more variables simultaneously, showing joint frequencies. Although it is related to frequency distributions, the stem refers specifically to counts for each category of one variable, so contingency table is not the best answer here.